Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, was confirmed by the Senate late on Friday, all but closing in on his confirmation after facing misconduct allegations Derailed.

Vice President J.D. Vance rallied against Hegseth after three Republican senators, including former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, voted against him Seven votes.

During Hegseth’s confirmation hearing, he faced questions about sexual assault allegationwhich he denied, as well as infidelity and drinking.

The former combat veteran and one-time Fox News host will oversee a department of about 3 million employees and an $84.9bn (£6.95bn) budget.

Four Republicans needed to join the 47 Democratic and independent senators who voted against Hegseth’s nomination to be defeated.

McConnell’s surprise vote brought the Senate to a 50-50 deadlock before heading into the contest.

McConnell issued a bruising statement in explaining his vote, saying Hegseth was unprepared to lead a massive department of 3 million people while managing a massive budget and working with allies around the world. coordination.

McConnell said the defense secretary’s role is one that has “staggering consequences for the security of the American people every day.” “Mr Hegseth has so far failed to demonstrate that he will pass this test.”

To confirm Hegseth, Vance became only the second vice president in U.S. history to break his tie to confirm a Cabinet nominee. Trump’s former vice chairman, Mike Pence, became the first to cast a decisive vote when he confirmed Betsy Devos as education secretary in 2017.

“Combat, lethality, meritocracy, standards and readiness. That’s it. That’s my job,” Hegseth said during his confirmation hearing earlier this month.

Democratic senators asked Hegseth, a military veteran, about his qualifications to lead one of the nation’s largest agencies.

Hegseth, 44, was a veteran of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and later worked at Fox. He expects few national security cabinet positions, which are typically filled by senior civil servants, seasoned politicians, generals and senior executives.

During the hearing, specifically with female senators, Hegseth was also asked about his previous comments that women should not be in combat roles. He responded that his concern was not with women serving in combat, but with the U.S. military maintaining a certain standard.

His confirmation process was overshadowed by allegations of misconduct. He is accused of sexually assaulting an unnamed woman in a hotel room in Monterey, California, in 2017. He has repeatedly denied the accusations.

The newly confirmed defense secretary has also faced accusations of excessive drinking, including at work events, and infidelity in his two previous marriages.

“I’m not a perfect person, but redemption is real,” he told the hearing.

Earlier this week, he was charged with alcohol and spousal abuse in a sworn affidavit given by his former sister-in-law to a congressional committee. Hegseth’s attorneys deny the accusations.

However, many Republicans, including Trump, supported Hegseth.

For Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who voted against confirmation on Friday, past accusations helped sway their vote.

In a statement released days before the vote, she said his past actions: “demonstrate a lack of judgment and this is a man who will lead our armed forces.”

Meanwhile, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, another Republican who voted against Hegseth, said she was “concerned that he doesn’t have the experience and perspective to succeed.”