Senate Armed Services Committee grills Pete Hegseth on fitness, views and management at confirmation hearing

Chairman Roger Wicker convened the Senate Armed Services Committee to consider the nomination of Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense, opening the hearing by saying, "If confirmed, mister Pete Hegseth would assume the role in a moment of consequence." The hearing, which included lengthy questioning by members of both parties, centered on Hegseth's leadership record, public statements about diversity and women in combat, his writings on the law of armed conflict, and questions about his management of veterans organizations.

The core political argument at the hearing was immediate and framed by the committee's two senior members. "I do not believe that you are qualified to meet the overwhelming demands of this job," Ranking Member Senator Jack Reed told the nominee, citing public reports and writings that Reed said raised concerns about judgment, management and respect for the law of war. Chairman Wicker and Republican supporters, including former Senator Norm Coleman and Rep. Mike Waltz (introducing on behalf of the nominee), emphasized Hegseth's combat service and presented him as a reformer prepared to restore what they described as a "warrior ethos" and fix acquisition and readiness problems.

Hegseth framed his priorities in his opening statement as restoring "the warrior ethos," rebuilding the force and industrial base, and reestablishing deterrence, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. He pledged oversight cooperation to the committee and said he would "stand up for the truth and for my reputation" in response to media reports and anonymous accusations about his past.

Why the hearing mattered: Senators probed whether Hegseth's public record and private conduct — including written positions that critics say question…