Hegseth Grilled About Women in Combat, Officer Purge in Confirmation Hearing

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, was grilled about allegations of sexual assault and financial mismanagement against him, the role of women in combat, and expectations of a political purge in the military at a fiery confirmation hearing Tuesday.

Despite the pointed questioning and condemnations from Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the hearing appeared to put Hegseth on the path toward eventual confirmation as defense secretary as he repeatedly dismissed criticisms and Republicans on the committee defended his record.

"Our standards will be high, and they will be equal -- not equitable, that is a very different word," Hegseth said in his opening statement. "When President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense."

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At various points throughout the hearing, under Democratic questioning, Hegseth also did not rule out invading Greenland and Panama; following an order from Trump to shoot domestic protesters; ignoring the Geneva Conventions; repealing a policy that reimburses service members for travel related to reproductive health care, including abortion; rolling back protections for LGBTQ+ troops; and firing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown.

Hegseth's nomination has faced a bumpy road since it came to light that he was accused of sexual assault in 2017 and of financial mismanagement and excessive drinking when he was the leader of two conservative veterans groups.

Senators have also expressed concern about comments Hegseth made prior to his nomination disparaging women in combat, including saying on a podcast weeks before his nomination that he was "straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles."

Democrats interrogated Hegseth over the misconduct allegations, comments on women and his lack of experience leading a large organization, setting a blistering tone from the outset of the hearing and continuing throughout.

"Unfortunately, you lack the character and composure and competence to hold the position of secretary of defense," said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the committee.

During the hearing, Hegseth repeatedly contended he does not oppose providing women with the opportunity to serve in combat, but maintained that the standards for doing so must be "equal and high."

Under questioning from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Hegseth also claimed, without providing evidence, that standards have been lowered in "subtle" ways in order to meet "quotas" for putting women in infantry units.

"Commanders do not have to have a quota for women in infantry," Gillibrand shot back. "That does not exist. It does not exist. And your statements are creating the impression that these exist. They do not."

Hegseth also repeatedly dismissed the misconduct allegations against him as "anonymous smears" and claimed they were the result of a "coordinated smear campaign" orchestrated by opponents of Trump.

But in one of the most tense exchanges of the hearing, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., noted that, while Hegseth maintains it was consensual, he has acknowledged a sexual encounter with the woman accusing him of sexual assault at a time when he was still married and had just fathered a child with a third woman who was not his wife at the time.

"I have failed in things in my life, and thankfully I'm redeemed by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," Hegseth responded.

Reed also pressed Hegseth about an email he said was sent to a military officer that noted the Trump administration is expected to purge "disloyal, traitorous, liberal" officers. The sender of the emailer also threatened to submit the officer's name to the Trump administration to be fired, Reed said.

Hegseth denied knowledge of the email, but did not deny the administration plans to comb through the ranks to find officers to fire. Hegseth framed any disciplinary actions that the Trump administration may take against officers as an effort to bring "accountability" to military leadership.

"Every single senior officer will be reviewed based on meritocracy, standards and lethality, and commitment to lawful orders they will be given," Hegseth said when asked by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., whether Gen. Brown is one of the officers he plans to fire.

Hegseth also vowed during the hearing to reinstate service members who were booted from the military during the since-repealed COVID-19 vaccine mandate with back pay and at rank. Existing policy allows those service members to rejoin, though not with back pay, and Pentagon officials have said just a handful of those who were dismissed have expressed interest in rejoining.

Meanwhile, Republicans on the committee dismissed concerns about Hegseth's lack of leadership experience and, like Hegseth, discounted allegations against him leveled by anonymous sources.

"Admittedly, this nomination is unconventional. The nominee is unconventional. Just like that New York developer who rode down the escalator in 2015 to announce his candidacy for president," committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in his opening statement in reference to Trump. "That may be what makes Mr. Hegseth an excellent choice to improve this unacceptable status quo."

Wicker also maintained that "Hegseth has admitted to falling short, as we all do from time to time."

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who had been seen as a potential GOP "no" vote on Hegseth since she is a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, started her round of questioning by highlighting a letter from Mark Lucas, who succeeded Hegseth as leader of Concerned Veterans for America, supporting his nomination to be defense secretary.

Ernst listed her main concerns as the Pentagon being able to pass an audit, allowing women to serve in combat, and combating military sexual assault. In response, Hegseth agreed with the need for the Pentagon to pass an audit, reiterated that women should be able to serve in combat if "the standards remain high," and vowed to appoint a senior official to oversee sexual assault prevention. It's unclear how that official would differ from the existing director of the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, who is a career official rather a political appointee.

"You and I have had many productive conversations," Ernst told Hegseth. "You know that I don't keep anything hidden, pull no punches. My colleagues know that as well. So I do appreciate you sitting down and allowing me the opportunity to question you thoroughly."

Tuesday's hearing, as well as an FBI background check, were seen as crucial for Hegseth convincing any GOP holdouts to support him. Hegseth does not need any Democratic support to win confirmation, but can afford to lose just three Republicans in the full chamber if all Democrats oppose him.

The background check has been delivered to Wicker and Reed, but has not been made public or given to other senators. It is customary on the Armed Services Committee for just the chairman and ranking member to get the FBI report, but other senators have requested to see Hegseth's. Reed on Tuesday said he found the FBI's investigation insufficient.

With so much riding on the hearing, the atmosphere also turned into a bit of a circus. Supporters of Hegseth packed the audience and chanted "USA" as he walked into the hearing room. Three protesters who oppose Israel's war in Gaza also interrupted Hegseth's opening statement, including one who was carried out of the hearing room horizontally by Capitol Police.

The committee has not publicly announced a date when it will advance Hegseth's nomination, but could do so as soon as Monday, the same day as Trump's inauguration. After that, the full Senate would need to vote to approve Hegseth.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include additional information from the hearing.

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