Hegseth confirmed as US Defense Secretary after a tie-breaking vote

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
25 Jan 2025 06:01

Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote in the US Senate to confirm Hegsteh as US Secretary of Defense.

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Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth, center, attends the Commander in Chief Ball, Monday, January 20, 2025, in Washington, after the 60th Presidential Inauguration. (AP)

United States Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm controversial figure Pete Hegseth as the new US Secretary of Defense, late on Friday.

The confirmation came despite ongoing concerns about the former Fox News personality's qualifications, including allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct, and other controversies.

The vote ended in a 50-50 tie, with three Republican senators—Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, and Lisa Murkowski—opposing Hegseth’s nomination. As a result, Vice President Vance was called upon to cast the decisive vote, marking only the second time in US history that a sitting vice president has been required to break a tie for a cabinet appointment.

Hegseth is one of the most contentious figures ever nominated for the key role of Secretary of Defense. The 44-year-old has been outspoken against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the military and, in his latest book, questioned the competence of the US military’s top general, suggesting racial bias in his promotion.

Before his nomination, Hegseth had been a vocal critic of women in combat roles, though he later reversed his position during the contentious confirmation process, which has been one of the most heated in recent memory for a US defense secretary, according to the report.