WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is muscling Pete Hegseth’s nomination as defense secretary toward confirmation Friday, prioritizing his vow to create a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon over allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women.

Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, was confirmed as the new Secretary of Defense after Vice President J.D. Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. Hegseth faced a sexual assault allegation and questions about his past.

A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.

Senators Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins and Mitch McConnell voted against confirming Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary. To Capitol insiders, their decisions weren’t surprising.

US President-elect Donald Trump has filled key posts in his upcoming administration, leaning on allies and strong loyalists from his 2024 campaign as he shapes a team that reflects his commitment to an ‘America First agenda.

Kash Patel for FBI director, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services secretary, and Pete Hegseth for secretary of Defense are not just poor choices — they are dangerous. These appointments could jeopardize our nation’s safety,

Three days ahead of Trump’s return to the White House, many of his most prominent Cabinet choices have sailed relatively unscathed through their hearings and are poised to win confirmation as Republican senators rallied around them and appeared largely unwilling to defy Trump’s wishes.

The Senate’s 50-50 vote for Pete Hegseth marked the second time in history that a vice president was called upon to break the tie to confirm a Cabinet official.

Senate Democrats have yet to reveal more evidence to back up the allegations against Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick to head ... Pam Bondi, Trump’s new nominee to lead the Justice Department, and Kash Patel, his candidate to head the FBI, have also both ...

Pete Hegseth, Doug Burgum and Doug Collins are among the nominees set to appear before senators beginning Tuesday.

One by one, President-elect Donald Trump's hoped-for Cabinet is falling into place, even for his more controversial choices.