Pete Hegseth was narrowly confirmed as the next U.S. Secretary of Defense on Friday, following a 50-50 Senate vote that required Vice President JD Vance to cast the tie-breaking ballot. The confirmation marks a significant victory for President Donald Trump, but comes after a contentious confirmation process marked by fierce opposition from Democrats and some Republicans.

Three Republican senators – Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Mitch McConnell – joined all Democrats and Independents in voting against Hegseth, citing concerns about his qualifications and temperament to lead the Department of Defense. McConnell specifically questioned Hegseth’s ability to manage an organization of the Pentagon’s size and complexity. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, vowed to hold Hegseth accountable.

Hegseth, a former Fox News commentator and decorated veteran, has pledged to overhaul the Pentagon, focusing on restoring “the warrior ethos,” rebuilding the military, and enhancing deterrence. He outlined plans to address threats from China in the Indo-Pacific while prioritizing responsible conflict termination. His appointment, however, has been met with significant skepticism given his relatively limited experience managing large organizations; Hegseth himself admitted to previously managing a maximum of 100 people with a $16 million budget.

The confirmation process was further complicated by accusations of domestic abuse leveled against Hegseth by his former sister-in-law. Hegseth vehemently denied these allegations, which were also previously denied by his wife.

Hegseth’s appointment is only the second time a cabinet nominee has required a tie-breaking vote for confirmation, the first being Betsy DeVos under the Trump administration. His confirmation underscores the deep partisan divisions within the Senate and marks the beginning of his leadership over a department with a nearly $1 trillion budget and 1.3 million active-duty service members and nearly 1 million civilian employees.