Pete Hegseth's nomination to lead the Pentagon clears a key hurdle in the Senate
The Senate voted to advance Pete Hegseth's nomination to be Trump's defense secretary, putting him on a path to final confirmation at the end of the week.
WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Thursday to advance Pete Hegseth's nomination to be President Donald Trump's defense secretary, putting him on a path to final confirmation at the end of the week.
The vote was 51-49, with just two Republicans — moderate Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine — voting with all 47 Democrats to try to block Hegseth. He needed a simple majority to advance to a final vote.
Shortly before the vote, Murkowski became the first Republican to publicly oppose Hegseth's nomination, saying some of the behavior he has admitted to demonstrates a "lack of judgment" and is "unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces."
After the vote, Collins said she had raised concerns directly to Hegseth about his comments that women should not serve in combat roles.
In his confirmation hearing, Hegseth walked those comments back, telling senators he supports women's serving in combat as long as standards remain high. But Collins said in her statement she is "not convinced that his position on women serving in combat roles has changed."
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