Senate Advances Pete Hegseth’s Nomination To Become Defense Secretary

Pete Hegseth, who is President Donald Trump‘s nominee to be secretary of defense, cleared a key hurdle on Monday in his endeavor to be confirmed by the Senate.

The Armed Services Committee voted 14-13 along party lines to send Hegseth’s nomination to the full Senate after his confirmation hearing took place last week.

CNN’s Manu Raju reported details on what transpired with the vote, alluding to some of the controversies fueled by anonymous sources that Hegseth has battled against during the confirmation process:

“The GOP-led Senate Armed Services Committee approved the nomination of Pete Hegseth as defense secretary along party lines, capping an intense debate within the panel over the former Fox News host and military veteran’s fitness for the critical position.

The closed-door vote was 14-13.

The GOP waived a rule requiring seven days’ notice for a committee vote. Rs said it’s crucial to get a defense nominee confirmed. Ds believe it’s an effort to get the votes before any new allegations emerge.”

Raju also noted that Republicans hope to confirm Hegseth this week. It appears Hegseth will have enough GOP votes to be confirmed to Trump’s Cabinet.

“I just voted to advance Pete Hegseth’s nomination to the Senate floor,” Sen. Jim Banks (R-IN) said in a post to X. “There is no time to waste. The Senate should confirm Hegseth NOW!”

I just voted to advance Pete Hegseth’s nomination to the Senate floor. There is no time to waste. The Senate should confirm Hegseth NOW! pic.twitter.com/W49rxi6jXW

— Senator Jim Banks (@SenatorBanks) January 20, 2025

The Armed Services Committee vote on Hegseth’s nomination took place in the hours after the Inauguration Day ceremony in which Trump was sworn in to begin his second term in the White House.

Another of Trump’s Cabinet picks, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), flew through the Foreign Relations Committee in a unanimous vote that put him one step closer to becoming secretary of state.

The full Senate voted unanimously to confirm Rubio’s nomination on Monday night, making him the first of Trump’s Cabinet nominees to be confirmed by the upper chamber.

Other nominees also were advanced through committee on Monday. They included: John Ratcliffe, Trump’s nominee to become CIA director; and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, the secretary of homeland security nominee.

Also on Monday evening, the Senate passed the immigration-focused “Laken Riley Act,” which already passed the House. However, because senators approved an amended version of the bill, it must now be reconsidered by the House.