Protection secretary nominee Pete Hegseth will publicly face senators for the primary time Tuesday after weeks of privately pushing again on criticism over his {qualifications} and private previous.
Hegseth, a 44-year-old Military Nationwide Guard veteran and former Fox Information Channel weekend host, has confronted robust criticism from Democrats over his skinny resume in comparison with earlier protection secretaries, together with allegations of extreme consuming, sexual assault and mismanagement of veterans group funds — all of which he denies.
Many Republicans have been vocally supportive of Hegseth’s nomination, however others have remained noncommittal because the stories surfaced about his previous habits.
President-elect Donald Trump has remained strongly supportive of Hegseth, who has labored to win favor with Senate Republicans in one-on-one conferences during the last month.
Trump posted on social media in December that “Pete is a WINNER, and there is nothing that can be done to change that!!!”
Right here’s what to look at as Hegseth’s listening to will get underway on Tuesday morning:
How he would run the division
Republicans have stated they view Hegseth’s fight expertise as an asset, however Democrats say they’re deeply involved that he’s largely inexperienced and untested on the worldwide stage.
The Protection Division has a funds exceeding $800 billion, with about 1.3 million active-duty troops and one other 1.4 million within the Nationwide Guard and Reserves and civilian staff primarily based worldwide. Hegseth would face a frightening array of worldwide crises, from the wars within the Center East and Ukraine and the increasing alliance between Russia and North Korea to the rising competitors with China.
Search for Democrats to query Hegseth on the specifics of how he would handle the large division — and the way he would characterize the US in diplomatic conditions around the globe.
“We need a serious candidate, one that is capable of doing this job,” stated Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen, a Democrat on the committee.
Republicans say his resume is a bonus over conventional Pentagon leaders and reward him for desirous to overhaul the division.
“While maybe not the credentials that have traditionally been on the resume of nominees for secretary of defense, I think that he brings plenty and he brings some things that some of those more traditional nominees didn’t bring,” stated North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Republican member of the panel. “He’ll be disruptive in a good way.”
Ladies in fight
Hegseth stated as just lately as final 12 months that ladies “straight up” shouldn’t serve in fight roles. So consideration will likely be on the 2 feminine Iraq Battle veterans on the committee — Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa and Democrat Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, who misplaced each legs when a Blackhawk helicopter she was piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.
Duckworth stated forward of the listening to that she is going to query Hegseth on whether or not he’ll attempt to cut back the position of ladies in fight and the way he would achieve this. How wouldn’t it have an effect on recruiting? Would males be deployed extra usually in consequence? “We can’t go to war without them,” she stated.
Ernst has met with Hegseth twice after saying she desires to listen to extra about his views. She has not but stated if she is going to help him.
Hegseth stated on “The Megyn Kelly Present” in December that “if we have the right standard and women meet that standard, roger. Let’s go.”
Allegations of sexual assault
Hegseth has been combating again towards allegations of extreme consuming and the revelation that he made a settlement fee after being accused of a sexual assault that he denies.
Democrats are anticipated to demand an evidence from Hegseth. In a letter to him final week, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who’s on the Armed Providers panel, questioned if Hegseth would be capable to lead, saying she was “deeply involved by the various methods wherein your previous habits and rhetoric signifies that you’re unfit.”
Republican Sen. Ernst, who’s a survivor of sexual assault, stated her second assembly with Hegseth had “ encouraging conversations.” She stated Hegseth dedicated “to completing a full audit of the Pentagon” and to hiring a senior official who will “prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks.”
Many Republicans have rallied round Hegseth, with some showing to query if the stories are true. Tennessee Sen. Invoice Hagerty stated final month that it’s a “shame” that one thing that has been beforehand investigated “is back to some he said, she said thing.”
Will he have the votes?
Hegseth is prone to have near-unanimous Republican help on the committee and doubtlessly within the full Senate. But it surely may depend upon how successfully he is ready to defend himself, and his viewpoint, within the listening to. He can solely lose 4 Republican votes within the 53-47 Senate if all Democrats vote towards his affirmation, as Vice President-elect JD Vance may solid a tie-breaking vote.
South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds, a Republican member of the Armed Providers panel, stated Hegseth has been easy with Republican senators that he is aware of he should tackle a number of the allegations towards him.
“I think he will,” Rounds stated, “and at the same time, we’ll give him ample opportunity to talk about what he believes his role would be as a secretary, and the vision that he has for the department.”
Rounds stated he expects to help Hegseth, except something modifications. “I think the president gets the benefit of the doubt in his nominees,” he stated.
