★ Government Action
Senate confirms Hegseth as Defense Secretary on Vance tiebreaker
Filed January 2025
★ The Brief
What happened
On January 24, 2025, the Senate confirmed Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran with no prior senior government experience. Three Republicans (Collins, McConnell, Murkowski) joined Democrats in opposition.
Who enabled it
Who benefits
Deal or steal?
Six months into his tenure, Hegseth signed the memorandum of understanding accepting Qatar's Boeing 747 gift to the U.S. Defense Department.
★ Cast your vote
On January 24, 2025, the Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense by a 50-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote, the narrowest Senate confirmation in history for a Defense Secretary. Three Republicans voted against the nomination: Susan Collins of Maine, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Hegseth, a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend on Fox News and an Army National Guard veteran, had no prior senior government or large-organization management experience. Trump announced the nomination on November 12, 2024.
Further reading
- ★ Government ActionJuly 2025Qatar donates luxury Boeing 747 to U.S. defense department
- ★ Government ActionMarch 2025Senate confirms Trump's personal lawyer Blanche as Deputy AG
- ★ Government ActionMarch 2025Senate confirms WWE co-founder McMahon as Education Secretary
- ★ Government ActionFebruary 2025Senate confirms top MAGA donor Lutnick as Commerce Secretary
- ★ Government ActionFebruary 2025Senate confirms Trump endorser Kennedy as HHS Secretary
- ★ Government ActionJanuary 2025Senate confirms Zeldin as EPA chief despite no climate background