Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's nominee for US defense secretary, was confirmed by the Senate late Friday night after facing allegations of misconduct that nearly derailed his confirmation.
Vice President J.D. Vance cast the deciding vote in Hegseth's favor after three Republican senators, including former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, voted against him.
During Hegseth's confirmation hearing, he faced numerous questions about accusation of sexual assaultwhich he denied, as well as cheating and drinking.
The former combat veteran and one-time Fox News anchor will lead a department of around three million employees and a budget of $849bn (£695bn).
Four Republicans had to join the 47 Democratic and independent senators who voted against Hegseth for his nomination to be defeated.
McConnell's surprise vote left the Senate deadlocked 50-50 before Vance arrived to deliver the result.
Explaining his vote, McConnell issued a scathing statement in which he said Hegseth was unprepared to lead a massive department of three million people while managing a huge budget and coordinating with global allies.
The role of defense secretary is a “daily test with staggering implications for the security of the American people,” McConnell said. “Mr. Hegseth has yet to prove that he will pass this test.”
In confirming Hegseth, Vance becomes only the second vice president in US history to break a tie to confirm a Cabinet nominee. Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, became the first when he cast the deciding vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as secretary of education in 2017.
“Wars, Mortality, Meritocracy, Standards and Preparedness. That's it. That's my job,” Hegseth said during his confirmation hearing earlier this month.
Democratic senators have questioned Hegseth, a military veteran, about his qualifications to lead one of the nation's largest agencies.
Hegseth, 44, a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, later worked at Fox. He has little of the traditional experience expected of a national security cabinet position, a role typically filled by senior civil servants, seasoned politicians, generals and senior executives.
Hegseth was also asked during the hearing, particularly by female senators, about his previous comments that women should not be in combat roles. He replied that his concern was not with women serving in combat, but with maintaining a certain standard in the US military.
His confirmation process was marred by allegations of misconduct. He was accused of sexually assaulting unnamed women in 2017. in a hotel room in Monterey, California. He has repeatedly denied the accusation.
The newly confirmed defense secretary also faced allegations of excessive drinking, including at work events, and infidelity in his two previous marriages.
“I'm not a perfect person, but redemption is real,” he said during the hearing.
Earlier this week, he was accused of alcohol and spousal abuse in an affidavit given to a congressional committee by his former daughter-in-law. Hegseth's attorney denied the allegations.
But many Republicans, including Trump, maintain their support for Hegseth.
For Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who voted against confirmation on Friday, past allegations helped sway her vote.
In a statement released days before the vote, she said his past behavior “demonstrates a lack of judgment that is unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces.”
Meanwhile, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, another Republican who voted against Hegseth, said she was “concerned that he doesn't have the experience and perspective to succeed in the job.”