Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri attacked Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies during Defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing while using a misspelled sign. Newsweek called Schmitt's D.C. office for comment on Tuesday evening.

On Jan. 14, 2025, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for defense secretary, appeared in front of the Senate's Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing.

Hegseth faced questions about his ability to run the defence department, including its three million employees and massive budget.

Pete Hegseth vowed to foster a "warrior culture" at the Pentagon and be a "change agent." He did not address the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking, focusing instead on his combat experience.

The Senate is muscling Pete Hegseth's nomination as defense secretary toward confirmation Friday, prioritizing his vow to create a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon over allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior toward women.

Among President-elect Donald Trump's nominees for top positions in his administration, Pete Hegseth is one of the most controversial to face Senate confirmation hearings.

For the last 50 years, almost every nominee to lead the Pentagon has been a consensus pick who drew lopsided margins of support in the Senate. Pete Hegseth’s nomination has been a notable exception.

Even the president isn’t sure if his defense-secretary pick can squeak through what is expected to be an extremely close confirmation vote in the Republican-controlled Senate.