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President-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for defense secretary said nothing that would alienate the Republican senators on the Armed Services Committee.
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Democrats Question Hegseth About Misconduct Allegations
Democrats of the Senate Armed Services Committee called Peter Hegseth, president-elect Donald J. Trump’s pick for secretary of defense, unfit to serve. Meanwhile, Republicans praised Mr. Hegseth’s record and performance.
“The totality of your own writings and alleged conduct would disqualify any service member from holding any leadership position in the military, much less being confirmed as the secretary of defense.” “Have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature? The fact is that your own lawyer said that you entered into an N.D.A. and paid a person who accused you of raping her a sum of money to make sure that she did not file a complaint. I have read multiple reports of your regularly being drunk at work. Will you resign as secretary of defense if you drink on the job, which is a 24/7 position?” “I’ve made this commitment on behalf of —” “Will you resign as secretary of defense?” “I’ve made this commitment on behalf of the men and women I’m serving —” “I’m not hearing an answer to my question. So I’m going to move on.” “You claim that this was all anonymous. We have seen records with names attached to all of these, including the name of your own mother. So don’t make this into some anonymous press thing.” “I’m quoting you from the podcast. ‘Women shouldn’t be in combat at all.’ What I see is that there’s a 32-day period in which you suddenly have another description about your views of women in the military, and I just want to know what changed in the 32 days that the song you sang is not the song you come in here today to sing?” “Senator, the concerns I have and the concerns of many have had, especially in ground combat units, is that in pursuit of certain percentages or quotas, standards have been changed.” “Our adversaries watch closely during times of transition, and any sense that the Department of Defense that keeps us safe is being steered by someone who is wholly unprepared for the job, puts America at risk. And I am not willing to do that.” “I know what I don’t know. I know I’ve never run an organization of three million people with a budget of $850 billion.” “Why do you want to do this job? What’s your, what drives you?” “Because I love my country, Senator. And I’ve dedicated my life to the warfighters.” “He is a decorated post-9/11 combat veteran. He will inject a new warrior ethos into the Pentagon, a spirit that can cascade from the top down.”
- Jan. 14, 2025Updated 6:16 p.m. ET
Pete Hegseth’s four-hour hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday was strikingly contentious. Democrats derided him as unqualified to oversee the Defense Department’s three million employees and $849 billion budget. Republicans acknowledged that he was an unconventional pick, but suggested that might be just what the Pentagon needs.
Here are four takeaways from the hearing:
Hegseth looks as if he has the votes to get out of committee.
Despite all the fireworks at the proceeding, it seems that Mr. Hegseth has the votes he needs to move on. None of his answers seemed to disturb the Republicans who control the committee.
A vote has been scheduled for Monday.
A signal of how things would go for him came early in questions from Senator Joni Ernst, Republican of Iowa. Her vote is considered key since she is a veteran and has also fought for greater protections against sexual assault in the military.
Less than six weeks ago, Ms. Ernst voiced reservations about Mr. Hegseth’s qualifications. Since then, she has been the subject of intense lobbying by conservative groups on his behalf.
She has not yet said which way she will vote, but she used her time at the hearing mostly to help him.
She pressed him repeatedly on the importance of auditing the Pentagon — a relatively safe topic. She also encouraged him to repeat promises she has said he had made to her privately about appointing a senior officer to strengthen her past work to prevent sexual assault and rape in the military.
