WASHINGTON − Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee heated up Tuesday as Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., laid into him for his comments about women and gays in the military.
“I have never disparaged women serving in the military,” Hegseth replied.
Hegseth, Donald Trump’s pick for Defense secretary, kicked off a marathon run of Senate confirmation hearings − the first public questioning of the president-elect’s top administration choices.
Hegseth is Tuesday’s main − and only − event. Senators are asking the former Fox and Friends co-host to explain an 8-year-old rape complaint that resulted in no charges, allegations of drinking on the job, and his views on women in the military.
The hearing will be a test of Trump’s influence over Senate Republicans, who hold a 53 – 47 majority over the Democrats. Some senators have questioned Hegseth’s fitness to run the $850 billion Defense Department.
Hegseth, an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, has scant executive experience. He has described himself as a change agent who will rid the Pentagon of “woke” policies he says have made U.S. forces less battle-ready.
More: Pete Hegseth faces ‘big issues of character’ at make-or-break Senate hearing
Tuesday’s hearings are but an appetizer for a smorgasbord of questions and confrontations expected Wednesday, when six different Senate committees are scheduled to hear from Trump’s picks to run the Homeland Security, Justice, State and Transportation departments, as well as the CIA, and the important White House Office of Management and Budget.
Stay with the USA TODAY Network for live updates.
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Pete Hegseth will be publicly questioned on his qualifications for the role of Defense Secretary for the first time on Tuesday.
Gillibrand raps Hegseth quota claim
In the face of strident statements from Gillibrand, Hegseth maintained that infantry commanders had to meet quotas for women in their units.
“That does not exist,” Gillibrand said.
There are no such quotas, a Defense official confirmed.
−Tom Vanden Brook
Sen. Gillibrand hits Hegseth’s comments on women in the military
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand lambasted Hegseth for “creating the impression” that the military maintains quotas for women in service roles.
“I have never disparaged women serving in the military,” Hegseth responded.
But Gillibrand chided Hegseth for his past comments, saying he had “denigrated” women and LGBTQ people in the military.
“You said in your statement you don’t want politics. Everything you’ve said in these public statements is politics,” she said.
−Cybele Mayes-Osterman
Cotton asks Hegseth if he is a ‘Christian Zionist’
Pete Hegseth, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of defense, testifies before a Senate Committee on Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 14, 2025.
Asked by Sen. Tom Cotton if he considered himself a “Christian Zionist,” as protesters in the chamber had called him, Hegseth said he was a Christian.
Hegseth said Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza and that he supports Israel “destroying and killing every last member of Hamas.”
−Tom Vanden Brook
More: Why Pete Hegseth nomination is a milestone for the rightwing Christian movement he follows
Shaheen presses Hegseth on women in the military
Sen. Jean Shaheen, D-N.H., asks Hegseth to answer for his comments on women war fighters, citing, among many statements, a chapter in his new book called “The (deadly) obsession with women warriors.”
Shaheen asked Hegseth if he thought the two women on the committee who served in the military, Sen. Joni Ernst and Sen. Tammy Duckworth, were “less effective and less capable,” using his own words against him.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) speaks as Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of defense, testifies before a Senate Committee on Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill, January 14, 2025.
Hegseth said he was “incredibly grateful” for their service, but added, “it’s about standards.”
Hegseth describes “amazing contributions” by women in the military.
I appreciate your eleventh hour conversion,” Shaheen said.
−Cybele Mayes-Osterman
Hegseth is asked about his efforts to clear fighters convicted of war crimes
Reed questioned Hegseth about his advocacy for the exoneration of several servicemembers convicted of war crimes.
“How will you be able to effectively lead a military in which one of the principle elements is discipline, respect for lawful authority?”
In his response, Hegseth called U.S. rules of engagement “restrictive” and said they “made it more difficult to defeat our enemies.”
Hegseth came to prominence in part due to his advocacy on behalf of troops accused of war crimes.
During his first term, Trump pardoned Maj. Matthew Golsteyn and reversed the demotion for Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher.
Golsteyn, a Green Beret, was charged with executing a suspected bomb maker who had been ordered to be released after questioning in Afghanistan in 2010. Golsteyn admitted during a polygraph test, taken when he tried to join the CIA, that he had killed the man. That launched an Army investigation that culminated in the murder charge.
Gallagher was convicted of posing with the corpse of an ISIS fighter but acquitted of charges of murder and attempted murder.
−Cybele Mayes-Osterman and Tom Vanden Brook
Reed questions Hegseth on threatening emails sent to military officials
Hegseth said he was not aware of threatening emails Sen. Reed said were sent to military officials threatening their positions and pensions for following military policies during the Obama and Biden administrations.
The emails, Reed said, called the officials “disloyal, corrupt, traitorous, liberal,” and he said their language echoed some of Hegseth’s own writing and statements.
Asked if he supported those letters, Hegseth pivoted to what he called a lack of accountability for the disastrous 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
−Cybele Mayes-Osterman
Hegseth rails against media ‘smear campaign’
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., offered Hegseth an opportunity to address allegations of sexual assault and harassment.
Hegseth blamed a “coordinated smear campaign in the media,” Hegseth said.
In particular, he singled out “left-wing” media for, he said, not presenting his side of the story.
“All they were out to do was to destroy me,” Hegseth said.
−Tom Vanden Brook
Hegseth calls himself ‘a change agent’
Addressing senators about to judge his qualifications to lead the Pentagon, Hegseth stressed his record in the military. “I joined the military because I loved my country,” he said.
“When I took off uniform, my mission never stopped.”
To his lack of experience, Hegseth said, “We’ve repeatedly placed people atop the Pentagon with supposedly the right credentials, whether they are retired generals, academics or defense contractor executives, and where has it gotten us?”
“It’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm,” he said, calling himself “a change agent.”
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 14: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth testifies during his Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Hegseth, an Army veteran and the former host of “FOX & Friends Weekend†on FOX News will be the first of the incoming Trump administration’s nominees to face questions from Senators. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Hegseth began his statement by thanking his wife, Jennifer, whom he said had changed his life, his parents and seven children. He also credited his faith in God.
He praised President-elect Donald Trump, who he said charged him with bringing back a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon.
−Tom Vanden Brook and Cybele Mayes-Osterman
Protesters removed during Hegseth statement
Protesters have interrupted Hegseth’s opening statement with a series of outbursts. Chairman Wicker orders them removed.
“You are a misogynist,” said one man, who identied himself as a Vietnam veteran and criticized Hegseth for his support for Israel’s war in Gaza.
“Hey corrupt senators, when are you going to stop the war in Gaza?” another woman yelled as she was pulled out of the chamber.
−Cybele Mayes-Osterman
Glowing introductions for Hegseth criticize Pentagon status quo
Norm Coleman, a former U.S. Senator for Minnesota, introduced Hegseth as a “son of Minnesota.”
“He is young in the best sense of the word,” Coleman said. “He has struggled and overcome great personal challenges. Please don’t get into the cynical notion that people can’t change.”
Rep. Mike Waltz, a Republican congressman and Trump’s pick for National Security Advisor, called Hegseth a “dear friend” and said he was prepared to revamp a Pentagon that he said “continuously failed” at its mission.
“I have no doubt that he is going to get the Pentagon back to his primary mission – lethal readiness,” he said.
“This is a man who can reinvigorate that warrior ethos.”
−Cybele Mayes-Osterman
‘You lack the character’ to lead, Reed tells Hegseth
Reed criticized Hegseth for statements he’s made about diversity at the Pentagon. Hegseth has said that “Diversity is not our strength.”
Reed, who served in the Army in the 1970s, said the military was not stronger when women were prohibited from combat, and the Pentagon banned gay and lesbian people from serving.
“Our military is more diverse than it has ever been, but more importantly, it is more lethal it has ever been,” Reed said. “This is not a coincidence. Mr. Hegseth, I hope you will explain why you believe such diversity is making the military weak, and how you propose to ‘undo’ that without undermining military leadership and harming readiness, recruitment, and retention.”
Reed noted that he has supported nine previous nominees for Defense secretary, but says he cannot vote in favor of Hegseth.
Running though a litany of allegations against Hegseth, including that he mismanaged two non-profit veterans’ organizations, Reed winds up his statement: “Unfortunately, you lack the character and composure to hold the position of secretary of Defense.”
−Tom Vanden Brook
Top Democrat registers opposition to Pete Hegseth
Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat, makes clear his opposition to Hegseth in his opening statement, before the former TV host has heard a single question.
Reed listed the challenges facing the Pentagon: confronting China and Russia, dealing with turmoil in the Middle East, the threat of violent extremism. The next Defense secretary will need experience, wisdom and character, Reed said.
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be secretary of defense, arrives on Capitol Hill, to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee at his confirmation hearing, in Washington, U.S., January 14, 2025.
“Mr. Hegseth, I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job,” Reed said.
Reed went on to question Hegseth’s alleged incidents of sexual assault and harassment, alcohol abuse, mismanagement of the non-profit veterans’ organizations he led, criticism of women in combat and championing the causes of troops convicted of war crimes.
“I have reviewed many of these allegations and find them extremely alarming,” Reed said.
−Tom Vanden Brook
Wicker praises Hegseth as unconventional but ‘excellent’ pick
In his opening statement, Sen. Roger Wicker, the Armed Services Committee’s Republican chair, called Hegseth an “excellent choice” because of, not in spite of, his unconventional background.
He compared Hegseth’s inexperience to Trump, “that New York developer who rode down the escalator in 2015 to announce his candidacy for president.”
“I’m confident that Mr. Hegseth, supported by a team of experienced top officials, will get the job done,” he said.
Wicker described Hegseth as the right nominee to shake up a Pentagon “no longer prepared for great power competition” at a precarious global moment.
Of Hegseth’s past, Wicker said Hegseth had “admitted to falling short, as we all do from time to time.”
“It is noteworthy that the vast majority of the accusations leveled at Mr. Hegseth have come from anonymous sources,” he said.
−Cybele Mayes-Osterman
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna provides front row support
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., took a front row seat. As a “veteran and also a female member of Congress,” Luna said, “I’m here today to show support for Pete Hegseth.”
“They said that he was an alcoholic or implied it, that he was a womanizer, all this crazy stuff, a white nationalist,” she said. “Clearly, I would not support any of that, and I’ve looked through those allegations, they are categorically false.”
Asked about Hegseth’s comments on women in combat, Paulina Luna said she agreed that women should be barred from some such roles. “If you have a mixed team, I think it could jeopardize the value of that mission,” she said.
−Cybele Mayes-Osterman
More: Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing: What to know, how to watch
Applause and chants as Hegseth enters
Hegseth enters the hearing room with members of his family to applause and chants of “U-S-A!” The chants quickly subside.
Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., chair of the Armed Services Committee, opens the hearing with a moment of silence for victims of the Southern California wildfires and a note of thanks to Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member and former chair.
He asks the audience to stay quiet and avoid disruptions.
Senate prepares to question Hegseth
The brightly-lit Senate hearing room was buzzing with activity Tuesday morning as senators prepared to publicly question Hegseth.
Committee and media personnel streamed past the velvet barriers separating the audience from a semicircle of senators’ desks.
A line of Hegseth supporters wearing matching baseball caps and red pins reading “Vets for Hegseth” filled a full row.
Two protesters with antiwar group Code Pink held signs up at the front, one reading, “No Hegseth, No Christian Jihad,” before a guard ordered them not to hold the signs above their heads.
−Cybele Mayes-Osterman
What questions does Pete Hegseth face?
Senators on the Armed Services Committee are looking for answers from Hegseth on how he would manage the military’s $850 billion budget and its 2 million servicemembers. Also on the table are how Hegseth would approach ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and increasing tension with China.
More: Why Pete Hegseth nomination is a milestone for the rightwing Christian movement he follows
Hegseth, a 44-year-old former Fox News host and veteran, could face tough questions about his personal life and past, including his reported history of heavy drinking, his treatment of women and a sexual assault allegation filed against him eight years ago. Hegseth has denied abusing alcohol on the job and says a disputed 2017 sexual encounter was consensual.
Senators’ sights are also trained on Hegseth’s past comments opposing women serving in combat roles, which he walked back in the run-up to the hearing. A cultural critic of the military, Hegseth has accused the Pentagon of relaxing its personnel and training standards and adopting so-called “woke” ideology.
Does Hegseth have the votes for confirmation?
Hegseth needs a majority – 51 votes – to be confirmed in the Senate. With Republicans in the majority, he would win confirmation if every Republican voted for him.
More: Pressure piles on Iowa GOP Sen. Joni Ernst over Pete Hegseth confirmation fight
But the Republican majority is slight, leaving Hegseth room to lose just three Republican votes. And some Republican senators have said they need to see more before they can cast a vote for him.
They include three women senators – Susan Collins of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Joni Ernst of Iowa. To Ernst, a veteran and sexual assault survivor, Hegseth’s past comments and history have personal significance.
2017 sexual assault allegation hangs over Hegseth hearing
Since Hegseth’s appointment in November, a murky sexual assault allegation filed in 2017 has dogged his attempts to win over senators.
A staffer for California Federation of Republican Women filed a police report that year after she said he assaulted her at a hotel conference. No charges were filed.
Hegseth later paid the woman an undisclosed amount to settle a potential civil lawsuit, in a settlement that included a confidentiality clause barring her from talking about the incident, according to his attorney, Timothy Parlatore.
Hegseth said he was “buzzed” but not drunk at the time, and that the encounter was consensual. But Parlatore told news sources in the last few months that Hegseth was “visibly intoxicated” and the woman was “the aggressor.”
What time is the Pete Hegseth hearing?
Hegseth’s hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee is set to begin on 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 14.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hegseth faces senators in Defense Secretary confirmation hearing: Live
