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★ Government Action

Senate confirms Hegseth as Defense Secretary on Vance tiebreaker

Trump Cabinet

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.

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.

Actors

Who pushed it · 1

Who initiated, paid, or pushed the action.

  • Donald Trump
    Donald Trump

    Announced Hegseth's nomination for Defense Secretary on November 12, 2024.

Beneficiaries

Who gained · 1

Who stood to gain.

  • Pete Hegseth
    Pete Hegseth

    Confirmed as Defense Secretary on January 24, 2025 by a 50-50 vote with Vice President Vance casting the tiebreaker, the narrowest Defense confirmation in chamber history. Three Republicans (Collins, McConnell, Murkowski) voted against. Previously Fox & Friends Weekend co-host and Army National Guard veteran with no prior senior government or large-organization management experience.

Sources

Further reading