WASHINGTON—A key witness in the contentious Senate confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was assured by Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) that her sworn statement would carry weight in last week’s vote and could convince Republican senators to oppose the nominee,

Most of President Donald Trump's successful Cabinet nominees so far — including, as of Monday evening, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent — were confirmed by comfortable margins. But Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth squeaked by 51 to 50, with Vice President J.D. Vance casting the second-ever tie-breaking vote for a Cabinet secretary.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis told Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law that a sworn statement about his alleged alcohol abuse and abuse of his second wife could convince senators—himself included—to oppose Hegseth’s confirmation as secretary of defense,

The North Carolina Republican said he did his “due diligence” and deferred to the Senate Armed Services Committee endorsement.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a warning to Department of Defense employees on Sunday—days after he was sworn into his new office.

The Senate voted Friday night on the confirmation of Trump's pick to lead the Department of Defense, Pete Hegseth.

Pete Hegseth has vowed to bring his “warrior” ethos to the Pentagon. Democrats had assailed him as unfit for the job, and his confirmation came down to Vice President JD Vance serving as tiebreaker.

Pete Hegseth, the former co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, will be the next secretary of defense, after he squeaked by Senate confirmation with Vice President JD Vance breaking a tie 50-50 vote. It was an unusually close call for a cabinet nominee,

Senators voted 51-49 to advance Hegseth's defense secretary bid, which has been mired in several controversies. Two Republicans oppose him.

The Senate’s 50-50 vote for Pete Hegseth marked the second time in history that a vice president was called upon to break the tie to confirm a Cabinet official.

The former Fox News host faced allegations about sexual assault and excessive drinking, which he called smears.

Pete Hegseth’s confirmation vote from the Senate on Friday night, in a tie broken by Vice President J.D. Vance, was helped by a North Carolina Republican senator and a one-on-one meeting between the two.