Pete Hegseth confirmed as Secretary of Defense after Vance casts tiebreaking vote

His confirmation is the second time in history the vice president has had to vote to confirm a cabinet position, and the closest vote for any Secretary of Defense.
Pete Hegseth in a blue suit raises a finger next to his microphone.
Pete Hegseth answers questions at a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Jan. 14, 2025. Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

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The Senate voted 51-50 to confirm Pete Hegseth as the next Secretary of Defense, following days of questioning by legislators. The narrow confirmation came after three Republicans voted against Hegseth, leading to Vice President JD Vance casting the tiebreaking vote to secure Hegseth’s new job. 

The slim confirmation vote came after Hegseth was grilled by senators over several concerns about his past, including reports of heavy drinking, his management of a veterans advocacy group, accusation of sexual assault and a settlement payment tied to that, and also questions of whether or not he supported using the military against protesters. 

In a late Friday night vote, senators were split on the veteran-turned-television host. Three Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and former Senate Majority Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, broke with their party to oppose Hegseth’s confirmation. Vice President JD Vance traveled to the Capitol to cast a tiebreaking vote. It’s the closest vote for Secretary of Defense since Chuck Hagel’s 2013 58-41 confirmation and only the second time in history the vice president has had to cast a tiebreaking vote for a cabinet position. Hegseth himself was in the building waiting for the results. 

In a statement to department personnel on Saturday, Jan. 25 after being confirmed, Hegseth called it “the privilege of a lifetime to lead the warriors of the Department of Defense” and outlined three goals: “restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, and reestablishing deterrence.”

“I have committed my life to warfighters and their families. Just as my fellow soldiers had my back on the battlefield, know that I will always have your back,” his statement continued. “We serve together at a dangerous time. Our enemies will neither rest nor relent. And neither will we. We will stand shoulder to shoulder to meet the urgency of this moment.”

Hegseth, a former Fox News contributor and latter host and Army National Guard veteran, had been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump during his first term. The 44-year-old takes over for Lloyd Austin, who left the role earlier this year. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded two Bronze Stars. Hegseth left the military in 2021 with the rank of major. He’s now in charge of a massive department with almost three million personnel and a multi-billion dollar budget. During his confirmation hearings, Hegseth acknowledged his different background compared to other Defense Secretaries but denied several accusations of wrongdoing. 

Robert Salesses has been serving as the acting Secretary of Defense while Hegseth’s nomination was in the Senate. While Hegseth was waiting for confirmation, the Trump administration issued several orders and changes in the Department of Defense, including sending troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and ending several working groups and programs tied to diversity in the military.

Update: 1/25/2025: This story has been updated with Pete Hegseth’s statement to the department.

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