Pete Hegseth confirmation vote expected to take place after inauguration

Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker on Thursday said the final vote to confirm Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth will likely take place in the days following President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.

The senate committee held its hearing on Hegseth on Tuesday, where he clashed with Democrats, and denied allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and financial mismanagement. But Republicans appeared to rally around the conservative, including Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, who endorsed the nominee following the hearing.

Wicker did not specify what day the vote would take place, but said it could be as late as next Thursday if Senate Democrats do not allow the chamber to speed up the confirmation process. 

“I expect our Democratic friends will delay it to the extent to which they are free to do under the rules. Wednesday, Thursday perhaps," Wicker told reporters, per Politico. "This is not something that needs to drag out. He's got the votes."

Senate Democrats have not stated whether they intend to delay the vote, which would leave the Pentagon without a confirmed leader, but the committee's ranking member Jack Reed said the chamber needs more information before voting.

“We've made it clear we feel that there's more information that should be provided, and not just for our benefit, but for our Republican colleagues too,” he said.

If the confirmation is delayed, it is not clear who would fill in for Hegseth after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin leaves office. But the move is not unprecedented, as President Joe Biden had to wait two days after his inauguration for the Senate to confirm Austin in 2021.

The potential delay also comes after Republicans insisted that Trump's national security team should be confirmed as quickly as possible, citing recent national security concerns, including a terror attack in New Orleans.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.