Senate Confirms Hegseth as Defense Secretary; Vance Casts Tie-breaking Vote

Pete Hegseth is the new secretary of defense thanks to a tie-breaking vote by Vice President JD Vance.

The Senate confirmed Hegseth for the post Friday night, Fox News reported.

Three Republicans voted against the confirmation, which made the final vote 50-50. Vance’s vote in favor of Hegseth made him the new defense secretary.

The three Republican nay-sayers were Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky.) the former GOP leader. 

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-S.C.) was not forthcoming in his support of Hegseth, but eventually said Hegseth had his vote.

Murkowski said infidelity, “allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking” as well as Hegseth’s previous comments regarding women serving in the military were the top reasons for her “no” vote. 

Concerned Veterans for America (CVA), the nonprofit advocacy group at the center of many of the accusations brought up during Hegseth’s confirmation hearing, issued a statement regarding the nomination.

“The confirmation of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense presents a real opportunity to prioritize the security and prosperity of our citizens, champion prudence and effectiveness in our defense strategy, and focus our Department of Defense on America’s most vital interests,” per the statement. 

The New Yorker reported in December that Hegseth was forced out of CVA due to allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety and personal misconduct