By Charlotte Ehrlich
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense on Nov. 12, 2024, a choice that caught many in Washington off guard. Hegseth, 44, is a Fox News personality, author and Army National Guard veteran who deployed to
Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay.
While he is celebrated for earning two Bronze Stars, Hegseth’s political and financial controversies have raised concerns ahead of his Senate confirmation.
Who is he? Hegseth is best known as a co-host on “Fox & Friends Weekend” and a prominent figure on FOX Nation. Beyond his media career, he has been active in conservative political circles, supporting Republican candidates and causes.
Follow the money:
- While Hegseth has no direct financial ties to Trump, he has been a consistent donor to Republican campaigns. Most recently, he made a $1,000 contribution to House candidate Ian Smith, a Republican candidate who sought the nomination to represent New Jersey’s 3rd district. Media Matters reported that Hegseth’s donation came after Smith was arrested for driving under the influence, although the contribution was reported on the same date as the story about the arrest.
- Hegseth’s confirmation prospects are clouded by allegations about his financial and personal conduct. Four days after his nomination, The Washington Post reported that Hegseth paid a woman who accused him of sexual assault as part of a nondisclosure agreement. And documents reviewed by The New Yorker reveal that Hegseth was forced to resign from leadership positions at two nonprofit organizations, Veterans for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America, following allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety and personal misconduct. The revelations sparked bipartisan concerns among lawmakers.
Why does it matter?
- Hegseth’s financial controversies could complicate his ability to oversee the Department of Defense’s budget. The massive department was allocated $1.99 trillion in 2024. His reported history of mismanaging funds at veteran-focused nonprofits raises questions about his fitness to manage the vast budget.
- Lawmakers have expressed reservations about confirming Hegseth, with one Republican senator describing the allegations as “very disturbing.” Hegseth has since been meeting with Senate Republicans to shore up support, and while his path to confirmation initially looked to be an uphill battle, it appears he now has enough votes to become secretary.
- As the Senate prepares to deliberate Trump’s Cabinet nominations, Hegseth’s financial history and alleged misconduct are still under investigation by lawmakers, potentially derailing his nomination to lead the nation’s defense.
This article originally appeared in Open Secrets on January 6th, 2025
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