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By Andrew Stanton and Gabe Whisnant
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Pete Hegseth's nomination to lead the Department of Defense cleared a procedural hurdle on Thursday despite Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, of Alaska and Maine, breaking ranks.
"After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support his nomination for Secretary of Defense. I did not make this decision lightly; I take my constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with the utmost seriousness," Murkowski, a moderate and key swing vote, wrote in a post to X (formerly Twitter).
Why It Matters
Hegseth is among President Donald Trump's cabinet picks to face the most amount of scrutiny amid accusations of excessive drinking while being employed at Fox News and sexual assault. Hegseth has not been charged and has denied those accusations. During his confirmation hearing, he called the accusations a "left-leaning media smear campaign."
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Murkowski and Collins announced their plans to vote against Hegseth leading up to the vote. He can only afford to lose three Republicans during the final confirmation vote on Friday.
What to Know
Hegseth's nomination advanced a procedural vote by a 51-49 margin.
Murkowski wrote she commends Hegseth's "service to our nation," but that she still has "significant concerns" about his nomination.
"Managing the Department of Defense requires vast experience and expertise as the department is one of the most complex and powerful organizations in the world, and Mr. Hegseth's prior roles in his career do not demonstrate to me that he is prepared for such immense responsibility," she wrote.
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She continued to raise concerns about his previous comments opposing women in combat, noting that his revised position on the issue still leaves her with concerns about the "message" his confirmation would send to women currently serving in the military or who aspire to join.
"The leader of the Department of Defense must demonstrate and model the standards of behavior and character we expect of all servicemembers, and Mr. Hegseth's nomination to the role poses significant concerns that I cannot overlook," Murkowski wrote. "Given the global security environment we're operating in, it is critical that we confirm a Secretary of Defense, however, I regret that I am unable to support Mr. Hegseth."
Meanwhile, Collins followed with a statement raising similar concerns.
"I am concerned that Mr. Hegseth does not have the management experience and background that he will need in order to tackle these difficulties. His limited managerial experience involved running two small non-profit organizations that had decidedly mixed results," she posted to X.
She wrote she is "not convinced that his position on women serving in combat roles has changed" despite conversations about his "apparently evolving views" on the matter.
The Maine Republican also pointed to an apparent lack of "sufficient appreciation for some of the policies that the military is required to follow because they are codified in the laws of the United States of America."
"While I understand his points on the importance of up-to-date and workable rules of engagement, our prohibitions against torture come from American laws and treaties ratified by the United States, including the Geneva Conventions," Collins wrote.
Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment via email.
Murkowski and Collins are viewed as the two most moderate Republicans in the Senate who could be a key check on Trump's power over the next few years. Both voted to convict Trump following the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol building and declined to support his 2024 campaign.
Collins is up for reelection in 2026 in Maine, a state that backed Vice President Kamala Harris by about 7 points—meaning she'll likely need crossover support to win in a Trump midterm, though she has won tough races before. Murkowski last won reelection in 2022, defeating Trump-backed candidate Kelly Tshibaka in the general election, as Alaska uses a ranked-choice system.
What People Are Saying
Representative Pat Ryan, a New York Democrat, on X: "I encourage EVERY Senator, Democrat and Republican, to read this in full, remember the oath you took, and, for our men and women in uniform, DO THE RIGHT THING."
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh on X: "You are a coward and a disgrace."
Vox Politics Correspondent Andrew Prokop on X: "This is a really scathing statement, calling Hegseth not up to the job, sexist, and lacking character. Would take three more R no votes to sink him..."
What Happens Next
Hegseth cleared a procedural vote on Thursday, with a full vote on his confirmation set to be held on Friday.
At this point, it's unclear if any other Republicans may join Murkowski and Collins in opposing his nomination on the final vote. Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate. If three Republicans vote against Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance would serve as the tie-breaking vote.
This means at least four Republicans would have to break rank to sink any Trump cabinet picks.
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