Lisa Murkowski becomes first Republican to oppose Pete Hegseth’s Secretary of Defense nomination
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Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska became the first Republican to come out against Pete Hegseth’s nomination to become the Secretary of Defense. In a lengthy statement posted on X/Twitter, Murkowski explained why she would not vote to confirm him, saying she watched his confirmation hearing closely and heard feedback from constituents.
“After thorough evaluation, I must conclude that I cannot in good conscience support his nomination for Secretary of Defense,” she said. “I did not make this decision lightly; I take my constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with the utmost seriousness.”.
Murkowski has repeatedly criticized President Donald Trump, having voted to convict him for his actions during the January 6 riot. Earlier this week, she criticized Trump’s decision to pardon violent and nonviolent rioters. The Alaska Republican said that despite his military service, Hegseth lacked the necessary experience to run the Pentagon.
“Managing the Department of Defense requires vast experience and expertise as the department is one of the most complex and powerful organizations in the world, and Mr. Hegseth’s prior roles in his career do not demonstrate to me that he is prepared for such immense responsibility,” she said. “His leadership of two veteran organizations was marked with accusations of financial mismanagement and problems with the workplace culture he fostered.”.
