Pete Hegseth, Trump’s embattled pick for defense secretary, confirmed by Senate : NPR

Pet Hegsith overcome questions of sexual abuse, public drunkenness and financial mismanagement in groups of two veterans, he fled to easily win the Senate approval to become the secretary of Donald Trump’s defense. The vote was 50-50. Vice President JD Venus voted for Kentucky’s San Mach McConnell’s senses.

Only the last time a vice president confirmed the Towning of the Cabinet for the first time during Trump’s first term when Vice President Mike Pence voted to confirm the Battle Davis, who became Secretary Education.

Referring to the accusations and lack of its executive experience, Mercosky and Collins voted against Hegsit. In a statement, McConnel said:
“Mr. Hegsit has yet to show that he will pass the test. But as he holds office, the consequences of failure are as high as it has.”

Talking to reporters in California after the vote, Trump said that Hegsit would make a great defense secretary. He said he did not know that McConnell did not give the number, but he added: “Winning makes a difference.”

If four Republicans had voted to oppose Hagsit with the Senate Democrats, the nomination would have sank.

Among the charges: Hegsit was accused of sexual abuse at a Republican conference in 2017 and ended the signing of an unprecedented agreement and payment of financial settlement. In addition, a former nephew accused him of “abuse” with his second wife, who denied any physical abuse. And Hegsit was in charge of the non -profit groups of two veterans Where more money was spent. Hegsith has falsely declared any allegations against him, the result of angry employees or a part of the media smear campaigns against it.

The 44 -year -old Hegsith, Army National Guard fighter experienced and former Fox News host, has no experience in running a major organization, and while addressing this, he said that a one of his Different backgrounds. He cited his “dust on his shoes” from his combat deployments in Iraq and vowed to become a “changing agent” and “aspieter” in the Pentagon.

Since the post of Secretary of Defense was formed in 1947, all those who all hold came from senior positions in politics, industry or military.

Senate Armed Services Committee’s Republican Chairman, Mississippi’s Sen Roger Vicker said that as a host of Fox News, Hegsit’s work could be beneficial in its new role in the Pentagon.

“We should not diminish the importance of top shelf communications as Secretary Defense. Apart from the President, no officer plays a major role in telling men and women in uniforms, Congress and the public about these risks. What we face is, “Defense policy is needed through peace.

Hegsith has said he wants to restore an army to an army that he described as “wake up” with diversity equity and joining (DEI) programs claiming that he fought for a war. Focus on. He promised to ensure that the promotions were merely based on merit, not that they were wrongly described as quotas for women and minorities.

Recent certificates to guide the Pentagon were challenged on the quota system charges. Having a copy of the current military standards for men and women serving in Sensus Kirsten Gulbrand, DNY, infantry, said, “Commanders do not need to meet quota for women in infantry. Its existence. And your statements are not present.

He has also criticized senior Pentagon leaders, including Joint Chiefs Chairman General CQ Brown.

“First of all, you had to dismiss the Joint Chiefs chairman. Whoever was included in the general, general, admiral, who was involved, who was involved in anyone.” Sean Ryan Show.

Such comments have sent a shockwave through the Pentagon, amid the fears that Hegsit will begin to dismiss senior officers. During the first day of the Trump administration, Trump’s officials tried to remove “these” officers in the command to include senior officers. The point of meltingRetired General Frank McKenzee, former top officer at the US Central Command.

“This officer was more than the politics of the core, and nothing could have been more dangerous to the future of the US military than such a scheme, McCainz wrote.” Finally, none of the changes of these proposed personnel came.

Hegsith also said in the show of Sean Ryan that women should not be allowed in ground combat units.

He said, “I am saying straightforward that we should not have women in the war roles.” “It has not made us more efficient, made us too deadly, making the fight even more complicated.”

Women have been eligible for groundwater combat jobs since 2016. Now Army Infantry, Coach, Artillery are serving about 3,800 women. Another 700 women are among the maritime ground combat units.

On the occasion of his confirmation, Hegsith softened his stance on women in ground war roles.

Hegsit told the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month, “Every service member, regardless of gender, can meet the standard of professional and preparation for the career field, jobs in this field. There should be a chance to compete. “

“In these ground war characters, what is true is that the palm weight on your back does not change, the weight of 155 rounds you carry you does not change, the weight of the 240 Bravo machine guns you don’t change He does not take it, whether male or female.

Nevertheless, Hegsith has alleged that the standards have been reduced to allowing more women in the military’s ground combat units, which is controversial by military officials. Hegsit has promised to assess the standards as secretary.

Problems for the Defense Department of the Trump Administration

Hegsit will inherit an army that is no longer involved in a major war, but is still busy in Iraq and Syria, working with local forces to follow ISIS’s remains. US troops are also training with African forces to fight any militants in North Africa. When this new administration begins, one of these questions is whether Trump will continue the anti -ISIS mission that targets ISIS training and command centers.

Another problem that is likely to be revealed is US relations with NATO members. Trump has long criticized the alliance that he has not paid enough cost to defend himself and recently demanded members of the coalition to spend five percent of his GDP on defense. The United States now spends less than three percent on defense.

The immediate focus for Higgsith will provide military assistance to the southern border. Already about 1, 1500 active duty troops have been shipped to help border patrols, which includes barriers and transportation of jobs. Pentagon officials say thousands of more troops will be sent in the coming weeks and months.