Senate Faces Divided Stance on Hegseth’s Pentagon Nomination

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, faces a tough Senate confirmation as questions persist about his qualifications for the role.

The Army veteran and former Fox News anchor faces concerns over allegations of sexual assault outlined in a police report released Wednesday, as well as concerns over his lack of experience running a large federal agency.

Although none of the GOP senators explicitly opposed his nomination, many expressed just tepid support. With only four Republican defections needed to join Democrats in blocking Hegseth’s confirmation, his path to approval remains uncertain.

Exacerbating the challenge, the recent failure of former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) nomination for U.S. attorney general underscores that even with a Republican Party majority in Congress next year, the future Trump administration could face significant obstacles in getting controversial cabinet picks approved.

Six GOP senators who could play a decisive role in Hegseth’s confirmation are: Senators Joni Ernst, Lisa Murkowski, Kevin Cramer, Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, and Senator-elect John Curtis.

Senator Joni Ernst, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has expressed concerns over the sexual assault allegations against Hegseth, stating that they warrant further “discussion.”

“Any time there are allegations, you want to make sure they are properly vetted, so we’ll have that discussion,” Ernst, a National Guard and Army Reserve veteran, told Politico.

She also was the only Republican to vote against then-Gen. John Hyten for Joint Chiefs vice chair after allegations of sexual assault emerged during his confirmation.

In addition, she wants Hegseth to explain his comments that women should not serve in combat roles. “Even a staff member of mine, she is an infantry officer … she is a tough woman, so he is going to have to explain it,” Ernst told reporters last week.

Senator Lisa Murkowski, one of the few remaining moderate Republicans in the Senate, has often sided against Trump, notably refusing to vote for him in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 elections. 

She was also among the seven Republican senators who voted to condemn Trump for his involvement in the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol. Regarding upcoming cabinet appointments, Murkowski declared, “I’m going to do what everybody should do on all of these [nominations] is, let’s see what the incoming brings.”

Senator Kevin Cramer, another member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been the most outspoken Republican critic of Hegseth’s nomination, citing concerns over the sexual assault allegations against him.

“It’s a pretty big problem, given that we have, you know, we have a sexual assault problem in our military,” Cramer told reporters on Thursday.

However, he declined to say whether the newly released details in the 22-page police report would influence his vote.

Senator Susan Collins, like her moderate colleague Lisa Murkowski, has often posed a challenge to Trump. While not directly criticizing Hegseth, Collins stressed the importance of allowing the confirmation process to unfold. 

“It’s clear that we’re going to need a full background check, a Senate committee investigation and public hearings, as is the norm,” Collins said this week when questioned about the allegations against Hegseth. 

However, her opposition to Matt Gaetz’s nomination, which played a key role in derailing his confirmation, could be an indicator of how she might approach Hegseth’s nomination.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has had a history of disagreements with the president, particularly on defense and foreign policy. While McConnell advocates for U.S. strength and international alliances, Trump leans toward a populist, isolationist approach.

As he prepares to chair the Appropriations Committee’s defense subcommittee in the upcoming Congress, McConnell is expected to scrutinize Trump’s Defense Department nominee more critically. With no plans to seek reelection in 2026, McConnell has more freedom to make independent decisions.

Although he has remained largely silent on Trump’s cabinet picks, McConnell emphasized the need for thorough vetting: “Each of these nominees needs to come before the Senate and go through the process and be vetted,” he said.

Senator-elect John Curtis, a former Democrat, has not yet commented on Hegseth’s nomination but has emphasized that only the Senate, and not the incoming administration, should have the final word in confirming or rejecting Trump’s Cabinet picks.

Curtis, who also reportedly opposed Gaetz’s nomination, is against Trump’s proposal to bypass Senate confirmation through recess appointments.

“Senator-elect Curtis believes that every president is afforded a degree of deference to select his team and make nominations,” said Corey Norman, Curtis’s chief of staff, in a statement to KSL TV on Thursday.

“He also firmly believes in and is committed to the Senate’s critical role to confirm or reject nominations based on information and insight from confirmation hearings.”