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Pete Hegseth<\/strong>, an Army National Guard combat veteran and a former Fox News host, is now the secretary of defense after narrowly passing<\/a> his Senate confirmation<\/a> on Friday night. Vice President JD Vance<\/strong> cast the tie-break vote after three Republican senators\u2014Susan Collins<\/strong> of Maine, Mitch McConnell<\/strong> of Kentucky, and Lisa Murkowski<\/strong> of Alaska\u2014went against<\/a> Donald Trump<\/strong>\u2019s embattled pick to lead the world\u2019s most funded military.<\/p>\n Hegseth\u2019s confirmation was the slimmest in history, with the prior four nominees for defense secretary all receiving 90 or more votes\u2014a stark difference from Hegseth\u2019s contentious road to the role. Every other man who has served as defense secretary came from senior positions in politics, industry, or the military. As several members of the Senate Armed Services Committee pointed out in his confirmation hearings earlier this month, Hegseth, 44, lacked the expected job qualifications<\/a> for the role and, at multiple<\/a> points, failed to answer<\/a> specific questions directly pertaining to the job responsibilities. During Hegseth\u2019s confirmation hearing, and in the weeks leading up to it, he was tasked with responding to allegations of sexual assault<\/a>, physical and verbal abuse<\/a>, regressive views toward women in the military, and financial mismanagement<\/a> at the two veteran-centered organizations he ran. (Hegseth has repeatedly denied these allegations and held that he is the victim of a media attack against him.)<\/p>\n \u201cThe leader of the Department of Defense must demonstrate and model the standards of behavior and character we expect of all servicemembers, and Mr. Hegseth\u2019s nomination to the role poses significant concerns that I cannot overlook,\u201d Murkowski said<\/a> Thursday in a lengthy statement. \u201cGiven the global security environment we\u2019re operating in, it is critical that we confirm a Secretary of Defense, however, I regret that I am unable to support Mr. Hegseth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhile I appreciate his courageous military service and his ongoing commitment to our servicemembers and their families,\u201d Collins said, \u201cI am concerned that he does not have the experience and perspective necessary to succeed in the job.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy all accounts, brave young men and women join the military with the understanding that it is a meritocracy. This precious trust endures only as long as lawful civilian leadership upholds what must be a firewall between servicemembers and politics,\u201d McConnell said<\/a> after voting no. \u201cThe Biden Administration failed at this fundamental task. But the restoration of \u2018warrior culture\u2019 will not come from trading one set of culture warriors for another,\u201d he added, referencing Hegseth\u2019s promise<\/a> to bring back a \u201cwarrior culture\u201d to the Pentagon.<\/p>\n