On Friday night, late in the evening Spanish time, the United States Senate narrowly approved Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's candidate to lead the Department of Defense and its three million employees, including military and civilians. It has been the most controversial nomination since World War II and also the closest. Republicans have a very comfortable majority in the upper chamber, with 53 senators compared to the Democrats' 47.
However, the scandals surrounding Hegseth, who paid $50,000 to a woman to settle a sexual assault case, who has been accused of mistreating his second wife, or being an alcoholic who drank at work or lost control at parties after making racist or sexist remarks, led three Republicans to vote against, challenging Trump for the first time and provoking the anger of the MAGA movement.
With a tie at 50, the country's vice president, J.D. Vance, assumed his role as Senate president pro tempore and unblocked the process, opening the doors of the Pentagon to Hegseth and his conservative vision, which includes believing that women should not be on the front lines of battle.
There are few cases where a candidate for such a significant position has so many reports against them, but still only Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and the once powerful Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the former majority leader who saved Trump from impeachment in the past, opposed. Even Senator Joni Ernst, who served for 23 years in uniform and initially felt offended by the ideas of the former Fox host about women in the military and was herself a victim of sexual assault, voted in favor.
"The effective management of nearly three million military and civilian personnel, an annual budget of nearly a trillion dollars, and alliances and partnerships worldwide is a daily test with enormous consequences," McConnell said in a statement explaining his vote. "So far, Hegseth has not shown that he will pass this test," he added. The three Republicans now face the anger of Trump and the MAGA movement, which is not only attacking and insulting them through all imaginable platforms but has threatened to call for primaries, funded by Elon Musk and other millionaires, against anyone who dares to vote against any initiative or candidate of the president.
Almost all of Hegseth's predecessors easily passed Senate scrutiny, usually with over 90 votes in favor, as was the case with Marco Rubio, unanimously voted as Secretary of State by both parties a week ago. The last controversial case was ironically that of Chuck Hagel, Barack Obama's pick in 2013. The curious thing was that Hagel was confirmed with 58 votes in favor and 41 against... from members of his own party due to his views on the Iraq war. The clearest precedent, however, would be that of John G. Tower, President George H.W. Bush's nominee, who was rejected by 47 to 53 in 1989 after allegations of alcohol abuse and issues with women came to light.
The appointment clears the way for the majority of the remaining nominees. Some are problematic, such as the White House National Security Advisor, Tulsi Gabbard, with ideas and ties that are most concerning with both China and Russia as well as with the Assad regime. But no other case has reached the level of controversy of Hegseth's. Trump, after losing his choice for attorney general, former Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, made it clear that he would not give up on anyone else, regardless of the cost.
With Rubio and the new Pentagon chief now in place, the U.S. can begin to shape its foreign policy in this term. So far, the initial orders have been loaded with symbolic force, but more in terms of cultural warfare than anything else. Prohibiting any flag in embassies other than that of the country, to avoid, for example, the LGBTQ movement's flag where there are threats. Or for example, the "suspension of works" order issued on Friday for all current foreign assistance and upcoming disbursements, to review if the aid allocation was aligned with the new directives.
The cable, drafted by the Department's foreign assistance office and approved by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stated that only two exemptions had been granted for military funding to Israel and Egypt. "No new funds will be allocated (...) until each new proposed grant or extension has been reviewed and approved," according to "the agenda of President" Donald Trump, the note reads. Emergency food aid is also exempt from this directive, but the circular does not mention Ukraine, which received billions of dollars in aid under the previous administration of Democrat Joe Biden to defend itself from Russia, suggesting that this aid is also frozen, although there is no official confirmation yet.
Rubio's memorandum, justifying the freeze, states that it is impossible for the new administration to assess whether existing foreign aid commitments "are not duplicated, are effective, and are consistent." The Republican stated in the decree that "the U.S. foreign aid industry and bureaucracy are not aligned with U.S. interests and, in many cases, are contrary to U.S. values," according to AFP.
The measure risks cutting billions of dollars in vital assistance. The United States is the largest donor of aid globally: in fiscal year 2023, it disbursed $72 billion in assistance.