Hegseth outlines priorities after being sworn in to lead Pentagon

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 lead the warriors of the Department of Defense, under the leadership of our Commander in Chief Donald J. Trump," Hegseth said in a statement to the military. "We will put America First, and we will never back down."

Hegseth vowed to promote Trump's mission of achieving peace through strength in three ways: Restore the warrior ethos, rebuild the military and reestablish deterrence.

"All of this will be done with a focus on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and readiness," he wrote. "I have committed my life to warfighters and their families. Just as my fellow soldiers had my back on the battlefield, know that I will always have your back."

"We serve together at a dangerous time. Our enemies will neither rest nor relent. And neither will we," the Army veteran continued. "We will stand shoulder to shoulder to meet the urgency of this moment."

Hegseth was confirmed by the Senate Friday after Vice President Vance issued a tie-breaking vote. It is believed to be only the second time in history that a vice president has cast such a vote, after former Vice President Pence broke the tie to confirm former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in 2017.

Three Republican senators including Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Susan Collins (Maine) and Mitch McConnell (Ky.) voted "no." While Murkowski and Collins were expected to vote against him, McConnell's vote emerged as a surprise.

Trump was quick to offer support to his nominee after the vote was final.

"Congratulations to Pete Hegseth. He will make a great Secretary of Defense!" Trump wrote Friday on Truth Social.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host, faced an uphill battle after Trump tapped him to lead the Defense Department, from allegations of sexual misconduct to questions about a past drinking problem. His nomination was also rattled earlier this week when Democrats revealed they had obtained a sworn affidavit by his former sister-in-law accusing him of being physically intimidating and frequently drunk, even while in military uniform.

Despite the mounting scrutiny, a fiery questioning during confirmation hearings and a nomination that at times seemed doomed to fail, Hegseth, 45, is now the second youngest Pentagon chief in history after the late Donald Rumsfeld — who served under both the Ford and George W. Bush administrations.

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