Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was sworn in on Saturday, issued a statement outlining his top priorities for the Pentagon under President Trump. “It is the privilege of a lifetime to

Newly-confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth received strong praise from President Trump and other Republicans following a nail-biting Senate vote Friday night that will see him take command of the Pentagon.

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.

President Donald Trump has named an acting defense secretary because his choice to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, has not yet been confirmed by the Senate.

The Senate on Friday night voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary after Vice President JD Vance stepped in to cast the tiebreaking vote. Hegseth’s nomination had been hampered by allegations of misconduct.

Even though Trump has not officially been inaugurated, the Senate can confirm cabinet members before his Oath of Office.

Noem is set to lead the Department of Homeland Security, which will oversee many of Trump's border and immigraiton changes.

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

Duffey, Trump said in a December social media post, is the nominee to run the Pentagon’s office for acquisition and sustainment, its chief weapons buyer.

The Senate narrowly advanced the nomination of Pete Hegseth as President Donald Trump’s defense secretary on Thursday in a 51-49 vote, moving him one step closer to confirmation despite fierce objections from Senate Democrats and mounting unease among some Republicans.

Robert Salesses will serve as President Donald Trump’s acting defense secretary as the nomination of Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department lingers in the Senate.