Senate Advances Hegseth’s Defense Secretary Nomination to Final Vote

Pete Hegseth will be confirmed as the next secretary of defense, if he can maintain his current level of Senate support.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington on Jan. 14, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The Senate narrowly passed a cloture vote on Jan. 23, clearing President Donald Trump’s defense secretary nominee, Pete Hegseth, to proceed to a final confirmation vote.

Senators voted 51–49 to invoke cloture, ending debate on Hegseth’s nomination and allowing the body to move ahead to a final vote.