Republican President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to head the Pentagon, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, came under early criticism during a Senate confirmation hearing. It covered topics ranging from diversity in the military to allegations about the defense of accused war criminals.
Hegseth’s performance before the Senate Armed Services Committee could determine his fate, even as Republicans hold a six-seat advantage overall in the chamber. The slim Republican majority in the Senate means Hegseth could lose the support of at most three senators yet to be confirmed if Democrats and independents Bernie Sanders and Angus King join forces against him.
Cabinet nominees almost never lose votes in the Senate, as they are usually withdrawn when they appear to be in trouble.
Pete Hegseth – President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary – was questioned intensively about his stance toward women in the military and past allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct during a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday.
Hegseth, who has little management experience, would lead an organization with a U.S. budget of nearly $1 trillion, 1.3 million active-duty military personnel and nearly a million civilian workers.
The next defense secretary will face a number of key foreign issues, including active conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and the expansion of China’s military, although little time was devoted to these challenges in the first hours of questioning.
Allegations of excessive alcohol consumption and sexual assault
A series of incidents have raised concerns among mostly Democratic lawmakers, including a 2017 allegation of sexual assault that did not result in charges and which Hegseth strenuously denies. Hegseth acknowledged paying a settlement to the woman who made the allegation, but said it was done to avoid a costly and lengthy trial.
Other allegations included excessive alcohol consumption and financial mismanagement at veterans organizations.
Hegseth described many of the reports as a “coordinated smear campaign” by the “left-wing media”.
Hegseth’s opening speech was interrupted three times by protesters who were removed from the hall.
The 44-year-old has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the military and questioned whether the top US general has the job because he is Black. Before his nomination, Hegseth strongly opposed women in combat roles.
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, came under fire during a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday. Hegseth has faced criticism on issues ranging from diversity in the military to allegations of defending accused war criminals.
Hegseth said he would support women in combat missions as long as the standards for doing so were not changed.
He previously testified that he would treat women and minorities fairly if confirmed for the job, but added that he would review military standards that prioritize gender or race.
“I would be honored to have the opportunity to work side by side with you, men and women, black and white, all with different backgrounds and a common goal,” Hegseth said.
“They will be treated fairly and with dignity, honor and respect,” he added.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen said the comments were welcome but represented an “eleventh-hour conversion,” pointing out that a chapter in one of his books was titled “The (Deadly) Obsession with Women Warriors.”
Top Republican says ‘unconventional’ decisions are needed
In recent weeks, Trump’s party has coalesced around Hegseth’s choice.
“Admittedly, this nomination is unconventional,” said Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, the Republican who leads the committee. “The candidate is unconventional, just like the New York developer (Trump) who rode down the escalator to announce his candidacy for president in 2015.”
But Wicker said an unconventional decision may be necessary to address what he described as deficiencies in the U.S. military’s combat readiness and deterrence capabilities.
Hegseth spoke more than once on Tuesday about wanting to introduce a “warrior culture” into the military, even as Trump has expressed his tendency to avoid involving US troops in foreign wars if possible.
During Trump’s first term, Hegseth lobbied on behalf of Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher, Maj. Matthew Golsteyn and Lt. Clint Lorance voted for president before the military tribunals against the men were completed. Each man was charged with war crimes.
Trump ultimately granted clemency to Golsteyn and Lorance and elevated Gallagher in rank. Gallagher was acquitted of charges in a controversial case.
Democratic Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a former military member, said Hegseth would be the first of nine defense secretaries he would ultimately reject. Reed said Hegseth’s advocacy for suspected war criminals was troubling, as was his defense of the use of waterboarding in interrogations of military prisoners.
Addressing Hegseth, Reed said, “The totality of your own writings and alleged conduct would disqualify any military member from holding any leadership position … let alone confirmation as Secretary of Defense.”
The last candidate for the role to be rejected was former Senator John Tower in 1989. Tower was investigated for drunkenness and inappropriate behavior toward women.
This week’s hearings
No hearing dates have yet been set for candidates Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Secretary of Health and Human Services), Tulsi Gabbard (Director of National Intelligence), Kash Patel (Director of the FBI), Howard Lutnik (Commerce) and Elise Stefanik (Ambassador of). confirmation to the United Nations).
The following hearings will be held this week, conducted by various congressional committees:
- Pam Bondi, candidate for attorney general, Wednesday.
- Sean Duffy, candidate for transport minister, Wednesday.
- Kristi Noem, candidate for homeland security secretary, Wednesday.
- John Ratcliffe, candidate for CIA director, Wednesday.
- Marco Rubio, nominee for Secretary of State, Wednesday.
- Chris Wright, candidate for energy secretary, Wednesday.
- Scott Bessent, candidate for Treasury Secretary, Thursday.
- Doug Burgum, candidate for Interior Secretary, Thursday.
- Scott Turner, nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Thursday.
- Lee Zeldin, nominee administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Thursday.
