Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Department of Defense cleared a procedural hurdle on Thursday despite Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, of Alaska and Maine, breaking ranks.
“After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support his nomination for Secretary of Defense. I did not make this decision lightly; I take my constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with the utmost seriousness,” Murkowski, a moderate and key swing vote, wrote in a post to X.
Hegseth is among President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks to face the most amount of scrutiny amid accusations of excessive drinking while being employed at Fox News and sexual assault. Hegseth has not been charged and has denied those accusations. During his confirmation hearing, he called the accusations a “left-leaning media smear campaign.”
Murkowski and Collins announced their plans to vote against Hegseth leading up to the vote. He can only afford to lose three Republicans during the final confirmation vote on Friday.
Hegseth’s nomination advanced a procedural vote by a 51-49 margin.
Murkowski wrote she commends Hegseth’s “service to our nation,” but that she still has “significant concerns” about his nomination.
“Managing the Department of Defense requires vast experience and expertise as the department is one of the most complex and powerful organizations in the world, and Mr. Hegseth’s prior roles in his career do not demonstrate to me that he is prepared for such immense responsibility,” she wrote.