The U.S. Senate voted 50-50 in the confirmation for Pete Hegseth to serve as defense secretary. Vice President J.D. Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Hegseth for the role in President Trump’s administration. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was one of the ‘no’ votes. WATCH: BREAKING — MITCH MCCONNELL VOTES NO ON HEGSETH. Vote is 50-50, and JD Vance will break tie. Pete Hegseth is confirmed as defense secretary.pic.twitter.com/9pCr6x9TKN — Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) January 25, 2025 “The Senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative and the nomination is confirmed,” Vance said. WATCH: #BREAKING: Vice President J.D. Vance breaks the tie, OFFICIALLY CONFIRMS Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. 51-50. pic.twitter.com/6Ja0ouL5vK — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 25, 2025 From the Associated Press: The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation’s defense secretary Friday in a dramatic late-night vote, swatting back questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women. Rarely has a Cabinet nominee faced such wide-ranging concerns about his experience and behavior as Hegseth, particularly for such a high-profile role atop the U.S. military. But the Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran who has vowed to bring a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon, rounding out President Donald Trump’s top national security Cabinet officials. Vice President JD Vance was on hand to cast a tie-breaking vote, unusual in the Senate for Cabinet nominees, who typically win wider support. Hegseth himself was at the Capitol with his family. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Hegseth, as a veteran of the Army National Guard who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, “will bring a warrior’s perspective” to the top military job. BREAKING: Pete Hegseth reaches 50 vote threshold in Senate, will be confirmed as next U.S. Secretary of Defense with tie to be broken by VP Vance pic.twitter.com/OGPZwN5rvZ — RSBN (@RSBNetwork) January 25, 2025 #BREAKING: The Senate has officially confirmed Pete Hegseth as the next Secretary of Defense of the United States of America with a tied vote of 50-50, broken by a YES from Vice President JD Vance pic.twitter.com/eRVbwktgWf — R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) January 25, 2025 Per Military Times: Hegseth spent 14 years in the Army National Guard, a stint that included tours in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan. His work earned him a Combat Infantryman’s Badge and two Bronze Stars. During Trump’s first term in office, Hegseth worked closely with the White House on pardons and legal help for several troops accused of war crimes in operations overseas. He also led a pair of veterans advocacy groups before joining Fox, where he was a vocal on-air supporter of Trump. During his confirmation hearing Jan. 14, Hegseth described the military as in need of a major shake-up, with policies less focused on inclusion and diversity and more focused on readiness. “We need to make sure every warrior is fully qualified on their assigned weapon system, every pilot is fully qualified and current on the aircraft they are flying and every general or flag officer is selected for leadership based purely on performance, readiness and merit,” he told senators. “Leaders at all levels will be held accountable. And warfighting and lethality, and the readiness of the troops and their families, will be our only focus.”