Facing a Senate confirmation vote Friday night, Pete Hegsoth could be confirmed by the narrowest margin of any defense secretary in modern history.
Secretaries of defense have historically been conservative nominees, and senators have typically provided strong support for a demonstration of US government unity on national security issues. Except for John Tower’s rejection of the top Pentagon job under President George HW Bush in 1989, almost all nominees Received overwhelming bipartisan Senate support. Some were confirmed by voice vote, not even requiring a formal roll call.
But Mr. Hegseth, a war veteran turned Fox News personality who has faced multiple allegations of personal misconduct, saw his nomination advanced Thursday by an additional, party-line 51-49 vote, with all Democrats and two Republicans opposed.
No votes from two Republicans, Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, were a rare partisan break with a president considering a cabinet official.
“I’m very surprised that Collins and Murkowski would do this,” Mr Trump told reporters on Friday.
The close vote made it clear that concerns about Mr Hegseth’s character and excessive drinking, lack of management experience and statements against women in war had deeply hurt both parties.
He has consistently denied all allegations about his personal conduct.
Mr. Hegsoth could lose one more Republican in the Friday-night vote and still be confirmed. If an additional Republican opposes him, Vice President J.D. Vance could break ties with Democrats and push him toward confirmation. But if there is more than one vote against him, Mr. Hegsoth will be rejected. It would be a resounding defeat for President Trump, who has strongly supported him, with the Senate in Republican control.
Mr. Hegseth’s closest comparison is the 2013 debate over the nomination of Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator from Nebraska and Chuck Hagel, the Vietnam veteran chosen by President Barack Obama to lead the Pentagon. Mr. Hagel met fierce resistance from his one-time fellow Republicans, though he was ultimately confirmed 58-41, with four Republicans joining Democrats to push him over the finish line.
Excluding Mr. Towers’ rejection following accounts of his excessive drinking, no other defense secretary nominee in the past 50 years has garnered fewer than 90 votes, with Leon Panetta confirmed 100-0 in 2011. Three others—Harold Brown in 1977, Les Aspin in 1993, and Donald Rumsfeld in 2001—sailed the Voice vote.
