Wicker did not specify what day the vote would take place, but said it could be as late as next Thursday if Senate Democrats do not allow the chamber to speed up the confirmation process.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin bid farewell Friday to the forces and personnel he has led through a tumultuous term that had three major military crises, a global pandemic and a personal brush with cancer that became a flashpoint for the way it was mishandled.

Pete Hegseth narrowly secured enough votes on Friday to become the next U.S. defense secretary, a major victory for President Donald Trump after fierce opposition from Democrats and even some Republicans to his controversial nominee.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski is opposing the nomination of Pete Hegseth to be President Donald Trump's Defense secretary.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin bid farewell Friday ... elect Donald Trump's choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has falsely claimed is his distinction and why he ...

While President Donald Trump continues to push orders to halt federal grant and loan payments, fire Inspectors General and purge transgender people from the military, some members of the U.S. Senate continue to fight Trump over his controversial cabinet nominations.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to revise the Pentagon’s policy on transgender troops.

There will be a lot on the plate for new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when he steps into his office on the Pentagon’s third floor E Ring.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story A wave of executive orders to shake

Pete Hegseth, a former combat veteran and TV ... including current Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was a leader in the initial invasion into Iraq. Lt. Col. Jim Mattis, Trump's first Defense ...

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signaled Trump would sign executive orders intended to roll back diversity initiatives and shake up the military.

Trump's executive orders for the Pentagon will fulfill campaign promises that the Republican reiterated during last week's inaugural address.