Washington, Jan 26, (V7N) - In a dramatic turn of events, Pete Hegseth, who was nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump, has been confirmed as the next U.S. Secretary of Defense. The confirmation took place on Friday night (January 24) when the U.S. Senate approved his nomination, as reported by BBC and Reuters.
 
The report states that the vote in the Senate was tied at 50-50, with no majority reached. In such cases, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who holds the role of President of the Senate, cast the deciding vote to break the tie, allowing Hegseth to be confirmed.
 
According to Reuters, the Vice President typically does not vote unless there is a tie, in which case they exercise their right to cast the tie-breaking vote.
 
Hegseth, a former Fox News contributor, has also served as an officer in the U.S. Army National Guard. His website lists his military service, which includes tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, and at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
 
Trump's choice for Defense Secretary, Hegseth, had promised to bring substantial changes to the Pentagon. If he assumes office, he will be responsible for overseeing the U.S. military, which includes 1.3 million active-duty soldiers and approximately 1 million civilian employees. Additionally, he will manage a massive annual budget of nearly $1 trillion allocated to defense spending.
 
Despite Hegseth's confirmation, BBC has reported that he has faced a series of allegations throughout his career, including accusations of sexual harassment, excessive alcohol consumption, and domestic abuse toward his second wife. Hegseth has consistently denied these allegations, calling them untrue.
 
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