Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, encountered intense scrutiny during his first confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, January 14, with Democrats raising concerns about his past conduct while Republicans praised his potential as a change agent.
Hegseth declared in his opening statement that politics should not play a role in military matters.
However, the hearing quickly divided along party lines, with Democrats focusing on allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement at veterans’ organizations, and controversial statements about women in combat roles. Republicans defended Hegseth’s military service and characterized his outsider status as an asset.
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, the new chairman of the Armed Services Committee, acknowledged Hegseth as an “unconventional” choice but suggested this could be advantageous, drawing parallels to Trump’s leadership style.
A central focus of the hearing was a 2017 sexual assault allegation. A female staffer for a Republican women’s group reported to police that Hegseth prevented her from leaving his hotel room and forced himself on her following a political convention in Monterey, California. While no charges were filed, Hegseth later reached an undisclosed settlement with the accuser. The FBI background check did not include interviews with the woman or Hegseth’s ex-wives, according to sources familiar with the report.
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the committee’s top Democrat, said that Hegseth’s writings and alleged conduct would disqualify any service member from holding a leadership position in the military, and certainly not as secretary of defense. He said he would vote against a defense nominee for the first time in his nearly three-decade Senate career.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York challenged Hegseth regarding his recent remarks about women serving in combat roles. She pointed to a November podcast where he argued that the United States should not allow women in combat and claimed that men are better suited for those positions. She called on him to clarify these statements, describing them as harsh, unkind, and disrespectful to the men and women who risk their lives for the nation.
The hearing also addressed allegations about Hegseth’s management of two veterans’ nonprofit organizations. According to The New Yorker’s reporting, he was forced out of leadership positions due to concerns about donor fund management and workplace behavior. Hegseth defended his record, stating he was “proud of every dollar spent” at the organizations.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, came to Hegseth’s defense, suggesting congressional hypocrisy: “How many senators have shown up drunk to vote at night? Don’t tell me you haven’t seen it, because you have,” he said. “And how many senators do you know have gotten divorced for cheating on their wives? … It is ridiculous you guys hold yourselves to higher standards.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, a former Army helicopter pilot who lost both her legs when she was shot down in Iraq, raised her voice as she pressed Hegseth to answer questions he tried to evade, and said, “Let’s not lower our standards for you,” mirroring Hegseth’s comments about women in the military.
Questions about Hegseth’s alcohol consumption, raised by his former colleagues at Fox News, led to his commitment not to drink alcohol if confirmed as defense secretary. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, referenced NBC News’ reporting about these workplace concerns during her questioning.
A key vote will be that of Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a military veteran and sexual assault survivor who has previously expressed skepticism about Hegseth’s nomination. During the hearing, she focused on his stance regarding women in combat roles, appearing satisfied when he affirmed his support for maintaining their access to such positions while emphasizing high standards.
The contentious hearing, interrupted several times by protesters, sets the tone for additional confirmation hearings scheduled this week as senators work to help Trump establish his administration before Monday’s inauguration.