Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Pentagon pick, faces tough confirmation test

Pete Hegseth will be the first of Donald Trump ’s unconventional cabinet picks to submit to formal scrutiny before a bipartisan panel of senators.

Democrats will use his limited management experience, allegations of illicit and inappropriate conduct, and a long history of public commentary deriding women, minorities and people with opposing political views.

If approved by the committee, the full Senate will vote on whether to confirm him.

Hegseth is likely to face questions from both parties on his view of women in combat.

He has called on the next president to overhaul America ’s armed forces, eliminating what he calls “woke” ideologies like diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and the people who promote them.

If all 47 Senate Democrats and Independents oppose, Republicans could lose only three senators from their side of the aisle.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren sent Hegseth a list of more than 70 questions, including questions about his alleged financial mismanagement.

The FBI briefed senators on the findings of the background check, a standard procedure, a Senate aide said.

If confirmed, he would replace Lloyd Austin , a veteran battlefield commander who has had to navigate the politically fraught U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 .