Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, is set to face a Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday. The former Fox and Friends co-host will face questions about an 8-year-old rape complaint, allegations of drinking on the job, and his views on women in the military. This hearing will test Trump’s influence over Senate Republicans, who hold a slim majority. Despite being an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, Hegseth has limited executive experience and has positioned himself as a change agent who will remove what he sees as “woke” policies in the Defense Department.
The confirmation hearings for Trump’s other cabinet picks will take place on Wednesday across six different Senate committees. Senators on the Armed Services Committee will question Hegseth on how he plans to manage the military’s budget, handle conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and address tension with China. Hegseth is expected to face tough questions about his personal life, including a past of heavy drinking, treatment of women, and a 2017 sexual assault allegation that was settled out of court.
Hegseth needs a majority of 51 votes to be confirmed, but some Republican senators, including Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Joni Ernst, have expressed concerns and may withhold their support. The 2017 sexual assault allegation against Hegseth has also raised questions about his character and fitness for the position. Hegseth’s hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14.
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