WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) – President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, came under fire during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday as Democrats railed against him and voiced deep concern about his inexperience, alleged drunkenness and past opposition to women in combat.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host, is one of the most controversial figures ever nominated to be Secretary of Defense. The 44-year-old slammed diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military, and, in his latest book, questioned whether the top U.S. general has the job because he’s Black.
Prior to his nomination, Hegseth strongly opposed women in combat roles but walked back that stance during the most contentious confirmation hearing in memory for a U.S. defense secretary.
“Mr. Hegseth, I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job,” said Senator Jack Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Reed criticized an FBI investigation into Hegseth’s past, saying it failed to sufficiently investigate extensive allegations against him.
A number of episodes have sparked concern among lawmakers, including a 2017 sexual assault allegation against Hegseth that did not result in charges and which he denies. He has also been accused of excessive drinking and financial mismanagement at veterans’ organizations. Hegseth has vowed to abstain from alcohol if confirmed and said he made some financial errors but denies any wrongdoing.
Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand slammed Hegseth’s past remarks about women in the U.S. military, saying he would have to fundamentally change how he sees women who constitute 18% of the U.S. military.
“We have hundreds — HUNDREDS — of women who serve in the infantry, lethal members of our military … But you degrade them,” Gillibrand said, raising her voice in a heated exchange.
“Please explain these types of statements because they’re brutal, and they’re mean.”
Despite strong support from Trump’s Republicans, Hegseth’s confirmation may depend on his performance before the committee. As Hegseth walked into the packed hearing room, he was greeted with cheers and a standing ovation from supporters, with chants of “USA, USA, USA” and a shout of “Get ’em, Petey.”
Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican who leads the committee, endorsed Hegseth, saying: “Admittedly, this nomination is unconventional. The nominee is unconventional.”
“Regarding his personal conduct, Mr. Hegseth has admitted to falling short, as we all do from time to time,” Wicker said.
‘ACCOUNTABILITY IS COMING’
Hegseth’s opening remarks to the committee, praising Trump, were repeatedly interrupted by protesters. He vowed to bring back a warrior culture to the U.S. military and said “accountability is coming” for those who fall short.
Reuters was first to report that Trump’s incoming administration is drawing up a list of generals to fire.
“(Trump) believes, and I humbly agree, that it’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm. A change agent,” Hegseth said.
When asked about his remarks opposing women in combat, Hegseth cited the need to eliminate quotas for frontline roles. Gillibrand fired back that no such quotas exist.
He later told Republican Senator Joni Ernst, herself a veteran, that he would support women in combat roles “given the standards remain high, and we will have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded.”
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said she doubted Hegseth had tempered his opposition to women in combat, saying: “The song you sang is not the song you come in here today to sing.”
In a 2021 incident first reported by Reuters, Hegseth was branded an “insider threat” by a fellow member of the Army National Guard over his tattoos. Hegseth noted the incident during the hearing, which led him to be pulled from Guard duty in Washington during President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
In recent weeks, Trump’s party has coalesced around his pick.
Still, the slim Republican Senate majority means that Hegseth can lose support from no more than three senators to be confirmed, if Democrats and independents unite against him.
Cabinet nominees almost never lose Senate votes, because they typically are withdrawn if they seem to be in trouble.
The last nominee who was defeated was former Senator John Tower, a nominee to be Secretary of Defense, in 1989. Tower was investigated over claims of drunkenness and inappropriate behavior with women.
If confirmed, Hegseth could make good on Trump’s promises to rid the military of generals he accuses of pursuing progressive diversity policies.
Hegseth, who has little management experience, would be in charge of an organization with a nearly $1 trillion budget, 1.3 million active-duty service members and nearly 1 million civilian workers.
The next secretary of defense will face a number of major overseas issues, including active conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and the expansion of China’s military, issues that received only glancing attention during a hearing focused far more on culture war issues.