On Friday, Pete Hegseth became the second person to be confirmed to a cabinet secretary post when Vice President JD Vance cast the deciding vote, ensuring he will be the next defense secretary. Ms. Murkowski and Ms. Collins also voted against him, along with Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky.

Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska ... had ever broken a tie to confirm a Cabinet secretary until former Vice President Pence did so to confirm Betsy DeVos as education secretary Feb. 7, 2017.

Vice President Vance on Friday broke a Senate tie to confirm Pete Hegseth as President Trump’s secretary of Defense, capping a bruising two-month fight over the nominee, who faced a litany

A son of a Democratic political dynasty, Kennedy is seeking to become the nation's top health official under President Donald Trump.

Three Republicans voted with every Democrat against Trump’s controversial pick to lead the Pentagon, forcing Vance to step in and put Hegseth over the top.

Pete Hegseth has vowed to bring his “warrior” ethos to the Pentagon. Democrats had assailed him as unfit for the job, and his confirmation came down to Vice President JD Vance serving as tiebreaker.

In the early days of President Donald Trump’s second term, Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski had openly challenged or rebuked him at least three times

The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation’s defense secretary Friday in a dramatic late-night vote, swatting back questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women.

Shifting positions: Trump administration officials continued to reverse or revise the government’s stance on multiple fronts, including active Supreme Court cases, Jan. 6 prosecutions, school book bans, foreign aid programs and gender definitions. Mr. Trump also reinstated a Republican anti-abortion policy known as the “Mexico City Rule.”

former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said in Taipei on Friday (January 17, 2025). Mr. Trump's first administration, in which Mr. Pence served, offered strong support for Chinese-claimed Taiwan ...

The vote came amid concerns about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid allegations of heavy drinking and abusive behavior toward women.

WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the nation’s defense secretary Friday in a dramatic late-night vote, swatting back questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women.