The Senate Armed Services Committee voted along party lines to advance Pete Hegseth's nomination to be Secretary of Defense. Republicans, eager to confirm Trump's nominee quickly, bypassed standard procedures, while Democrats expressed concerns about the timing and potential for new allegations.
The Senate Armed Services Committee on Monday advanced the nomination of Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth to the full Senate, bringing him closer to being confirmed. The vote was on a party line, with 14 Republicans voting to advance his nomination and 13 Democrats voting against it, according to a source familiar with the vote, which took place behind closed doors. A spokesperson for Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), the committee chairman, confirmed the vote to CNN.
The vote, which followed an “intense debate,” saw Republicans voting to waive a rule requiring seven days’ notice for a committee vote, arguing that it was crucial to get Trump’s defense nominee confirmed quickly. Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) last week predicted Democrats would try to delay the full Senate vote to as late as Thursday. CNN reported that Democrats believed it was an “an effort to get the votes before any new allegations emerge.” There is no indication of any new allegations, and Democrats on the committee have been opposed to his nomination from the beginning. Last week, Democrats tried to smear and embarrass Hegseth during his confirmation hearing, but failed to rattle him. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced he would support Hegseth’s nomination, securing the 50 votes needed to confirm him. The committee’s vote occurred just hours after President Donald Trump was sworn into office for the second time.The outcome of the committee vote is a significant step closer to Hegseth’s confirmation as Secretary of Defense. The full Senate will now consider his nomination. The timeline for the Senate vote is uncertain, but it is likely to be a contentious process
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Senate Armed Services Committee Confirmation Hearing Donald Trump
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