A key senator who had been seen as a potential barrier to Pete Hegseth's confirmation as defense secretary has come out in support of him, signaling that Hegseth is now likely on a glide path to getting approved.

In a Tuesday evening interview with a radio station^[1] in her home state, followed by a written statement, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, announced that she will vote to confirm Hegseth. Signs had been pointing in that direction, including her friendly exchange with Hegseth during his confirmation hearing hours earlier on Tuesday, but the comments made Ernst's position official and suggested any remaining hurdles to Hegseth's confirmation were falling.

"After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong secretary of defense," Ernst said in her written statement. "Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States senator, I will support President Trump's pick for secretary of defense."

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Some other Republicans seen as potential "no" votes on Hegseth, including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, still haven't explicitly stated their position on him. But Ernst's voice was considered highly influential in the debate over him, and he can still be confirmed with a couple of GOP "no" votes even if all Democrats oppose him.

Ernst became an outsized figure in the debate over Hegseth's nomination because her personal story seemed to make her an obvious foil to him. She is a female combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, while he has said women shouldn't serve in combat and has been accused of sexual assault.

When President-elect Donald Trump first announced Hegseth was his choice to lead the Pentagon, Ernst had a tepid reaction, telling reporters^[7] that "he's going to have to explain" himself.

But after two closed-door meetings with Hegseth -- and an intense pressure campaign from Trump supporters that included threats of primary election challenges -- Ernst's tone began to soften. After the second meeting, she put out a statement saying she would "support Pete through this process" and that she looks "forward to a fair hearing based on truth, not anonymous sources."

The hearing happened Tuesday and was highly contentious^[8] for the typically collegial Senate Armed Services Committee.

At the hearing, Ernst laid out three areas of concern she wanted Hegseth to address: getting the Pentagon to pass an audit, keeping combat jobs open to women, and preventing military sexual assault.

In response, Hegseth promised to make auditing the Pentagon a priority, said he believes women should be able to serve in combat if "the standards remain high," and vowed to appoint a senior official to oversee sexual assault prevention efforts. Hegseth did not say how that official would differ from existing positions charged with overseeing sexual assault policies, such as the under secretary of defense for personnel or the director of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office.

Hegseth's assurances were enough for Ernst.

"As I serve on the Armed Services Committee, I will work with Pete to create the most lethal fighting force and hold him to his commitments of auditing the Pentagon, ensuring opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards, and selecting a senior official to address and prevent sexual assault in the ranks," she said in her statement Tuesday evening.

Another senator who also expressed early skepticism of Hegseth, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also released a supportive statement after Tuesday's hearing.

When allegations first surfaced that Hegseth had committed sexual assault, as well as mismanaged funding at two conservative veterans organizations and had a history of excessive drinking, Graham called the allegations "very disturbing."

But after a closed-door meeting with Hegseth, Graham dismissed allegations based on "anonymous sources" and told "Meet the Press" that he was "in a good place with Pete."

In his statement after Tuesday's hearing, Graham, who does not sit on the Armed Services Committee, commended Hegseth for doing a "very good job answering difficult questions."

"Democratic attacks were overly personal and fell flat," Graham added. "With today's performance, I believe Pete Hegseth's path to confirmation has been assured."

Hegseth needs only a simple majority to be confirmed, meaning he can lose up to three GOP senators and still be approved with Vice President-elect JD Vance casting a tie-breaking vote, assuming all Democrats vote against him. The Senate Armed Services Committee is expected to vote to advance Hegseth's nomination as soon as Monday, after which the full Senate would need to vote to confirm him.

Related: Hegseth Grilled About Women in Combat, Officer Purge in Confirmation Hearing^[9]

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, was grilled about allegations of sexual assault and financial mismanagement against him, the role of women in combat, and expectations of a political purge in the military at a fiery confirmation hearing Tuesday.

Despite the pointed questioning and condemnations from Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the hearing appeared to put Hegseth on the path toward eventual confirmation as defense secretary as he repeatedly dismissed criticisms and Republicans on the committee defended his record.

"Our standards will be high, and they will be equal -- not equitable, that is a very different word," Hegseth said in his opening statement. "When President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense."

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At various points throughout the hearing, under Democratic questioning, Hegseth also did not rule out invading Greenland and Panama; following an order from Trump to shoot domestic protesters; ignoring the Geneva Conventions; repealing a policy that reimburses service members for travel related to reproductive health care, including abortion; rolling back protections for LGBTQ+ troops; and firing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown.

Hegseth's nomination has faced a bumpy road since it came to light that he was accused of sexual assault in 2017^[2] and of financial mismanagement and excessive drinking^[3] when he was the leader of two conservative veterans groups.

Senators have also expressed concern about comments Hegseth made prior to his nomination disparaging women in combat^[4], including saying on a podcast weeks before his nomination that he was "straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles."

Democrats interrogated Hegseth over the misconduct allegations, comments on women and his lack of experience leading a large organization, setting a blistering tone from the outset of the hearing and continuing throughout.

"Unfortunately, you lack the character and composure and competence to hold the position of secretary of defense," said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the ranking member of the committee.

During the hearing, Hegseth repeatedly contended he does not oppose providing women with the opportunity to serve in combat, but maintained that the standards for doing so must be "equal and high."

Under questioning from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Hegseth also claimed, without providing evidence, that standards have been lowered in "subtle" ways in order to meet "quotas" for putting women in infantry units.

"Commanders do not have to have a quota for women in infantry," Gillibrand shot back. "That does not exist. It does not exist. And your statements are creating the impression that these exist. They do not."

Hegseth also repeatedly dismissed the misconduct allegations against him as "anonymous smears" and claimed they were the result of a "coordinated smear campaign" orchestrated by opponents of Trump.

But in one of the most tense exchanges of the hearing, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., noted that, while Hegseth maintains it was consensual, he has acknowledged a sexual encounter with the woman accusing him of sexual assault at a time when he was still married and had just fathered a child with a third woman who was not his wife at the time.

"I have failed in things in my life, and thankfully I'm redeemed by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ," Hegseth responded.

Reed also pressed Hegseth about an email he said was sent to a military officer that noted the Trump administration is expected to purge "disloyal, traitorous, liberal" officers. The sender of the emailer also threatened to submit the officer's name to the Trump administration to be fired, Reed said.

Hegseth denied knowledge of the email, but did not deny the administration plans to comb through the ranks to find officers to fire. Hegseth framed any disciplinary actions that the Trump administration may take against officers as an effort to bring "accountability" to military leadership.

"Every single senior officer will be reviewed based on meritocracy, standards and lethality, and commitment to lawful orders they will be given," Hegseth said when asked by Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., whether Gen. Brown is one of the officers he plans to fire.

Hegseth also vowed during the hearing to reinstate service members who were booted from the military during the since-repealed COVID-19 vaccine mandate with back pay^[5] and at rank. Existing policy allows those service members to rejoin, though not with back pay, and Pentagon officials have said just a handful of those who were dismissed have expressed interest in rejoining.

Meanwhile, Republicans on the committee dismissed concerns about Hegseth's lack of leadership experience and, like Hegseth, discounted allegations against him leveled by anonymous sources.

"Admittedly, this nomination is unconventional. The nominee is unconventional. Just like that New York developer who rode down the escalator in 2015 to announce his candidacy for president," committee Chairman Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said in his opening statement in reference to Trump. "That may be what makes Mr. Hegseth an excellent choice to improve this unacceptable status quo."

Wicker also maintained that "Hegseth has admitted to falling short, as we all do from time to time."

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, who had been seen as a potential GOP "no" vote on Hegseth since she is a combat veteran and sexual assault survivor, started her round of questioning by highlighting a letter from Mark Lucas, who succeeded Hegseth as leader of Concerned Veterans for America, supporting his nomination to be defense secretary.

Ernst listed her main concerns as the Pentagon being able to pass an audit, allowing women to serve in combat, and combating military sexual assault. In response, Hegseth agreed with the need for the Pentagon to pass an audit, reiterated that women should be able to serve in combat if "the standards remain high," and vowed to appoint a senior official to oversee sexual assault prevention. It's unclear how that official would differ from the existing director of the Pentagon's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, who is a career official rather a political appointee.

"You and I have had many productive conversations," Ernst told Hegseth. "You know that I don't keep anything hidden, pull no punches. My colleagues know that as well. So I do appreciate you sitting down and allowing me the opportunity to question you thoroughly."

Tuesday's hearing, as well as an FBI background check, were seen as crucial for Hegseth convincing any GOP holdouts to support him. Hegseth does not need any Democratic support to win confirmation, but can afford to lose just three Republicans in the full chamber if all Democrats oppose him.

The background check has been delivered to Wicker and Reed, but has not been made public or given to other senators. It is customary on the Armed Services Committee for just the chairman and ranking member to get the FBI report, but other senators have requested to see Hegseth's. Reed on Tuesday said he found the FBI's investigation insufficient.

With so much riding on the hearing, the atmosphere also turned into a bit of a circus. Supporters of Hegseth packed the audience and chanted "USA" as he walked into the hearing room. Three protesters who oppose Israel's war in Gaza also interrupted Hegseth's opening statement, including one who was carried out of the hearing room horizontally by Capitol Police.

The committee has not publicly announced a date when it will advance Hegseth's nomination, but could do so as soon as Monday, the same day as Trump's inauguration. After that, the full Senate would need to vote to approve Hegseth.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include additional information from the hearing.

Related: Here's Where Trump's Pentagon and National Security Nominees Stand Ahead of New Year^[6]

Air Force^[1] Secretary Frank Kendall has less than a week left on the job and, on Monday, he took the opportunity to offer his vision for that service and the Space Force^[2] over the coming decades.

The outgoing secretary called for a bigger Space Force and for major upgrades to training and technology to ready airmen and Guardians to potentially face China in a future conflict. Kendall's recommendations were part of a report titled "The Department of the Air Force in 2050," which he publicly unveiled during an event at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington, D.C.

"China is doing everything it can to exploit the opportunities that emerging technologies are providing to field forces designed to defeat the United States in the Western Pacific, especially in space and in the air," Kendall wrote in the report. "By 2050, if not well before, the Air Force and Space Force will not be competitive unless we make substantial improvements in how these forces are equipped, trained and operated."

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The Air Force secretary, a Biden administration appointee, is scheduled to leave his post Sunday after leading the service department since June 2021. He unveiled his report just hours before his farewell address Monday afternoon, as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to be sworn in next week.

In his outgoing report, which was first submitted to Congress last month, Kendall wrote that "space will be recognized as the decisive domain for almost all military operations" and pointed to China and Russia's military and technological focus on space as a major warning sign.

"We're going to need a much bigger, much more capable, much more powerful Space Force," Kendall, who as secretary also oversees that service, told the crowd Monday at CSIS.

Kendall also argued that evolving times "demand changes to how we recruit and maintain airmen and Guardians." Under Kendall's tenure, the service missed its 2023 active-duty enlisted recruiting^[4] goals for the first time since 1999, but rebounded from the shortfall in 2024.

The Department of the Air Force "recognizes the changing nature of warfare requires a different kind of very technical, high-skill talent pool that makes recruiting the right airmen, Guardians and civilians that much more challenging," Kendall wrote.

During his tenure, he took on ambitious reorganization efforts, including bringing back warrant officers^[5], renaming commands^[6] and creating new headquarters-level offices and roles. While some of that is underway, many experts have previously told Military.com that the changes are likely to be rolled back under Trump's incoming administration.

Todd Harrison, a senior fellow who specializes in research on defense budgeting for the American Enterprise Institute, another D.C. think tank, told Military.com that Kendall's vision for the Air Force and Space Force in 25 years seemed to be more pessimistic than optimistic, in his opinion, especially when it comes to acquiring new defense technology and weapons to take on China and Russia.

"His report on the vision for 2050 is a bit curious because nearly everything he mentions are things that the Air Force and Space Force should be fielding now or within the next five years," Harrison told Military.com. "The fact that he views these capabilities as being 25 years into the future indicates just how slow he thinks the department is moving -- and if the past four years is any indication, he may be right."

Later in the day, during a farewell ceremony at the Pentagon, Kendall's colleagues praised the outgoing Air Force secretary for working to innovate.

Gen. Chance Saltzman, the Space Force's top uniformed leader, highlighted the outgoing Air Force secretary's past as an Army^[7] officer during the Cold War and said reorganizing the Department of the Air Force to keep China at the forefront of its mission defined his time in the office.

"When I think about what leaders do, that is really the heart of it: the vision, the sense of urgency and the structure to do the work that needs to be done," Saltzman said. "I think, in a nutshell, that's really what this says you're able to accomplish."

Trump has not yet named Kendall's replacement. In a tearful speech Monday afternoon, Kendall said that making sure airmen and Guardians had everything they needed in their fight against adversaries was a motivating factor in his career.

"Everything I have done for a lifetime of public service has been for our men and women in uniform," Kendall said. "Every trip I ever took, every exercise I ever saw, every briefing I ever received, every story from the field I ever read, every conversation with an airman or Guardian or [Department of the Air Force] civil servant and any of their family members reinforce my belief in you and the importance of doing all that I could do to demonstrate to any opponent that taking on the U.S. Air Force and Space Force would be a major mistake, and to work tirelessly to make that fear more than justified."

Related: The Air Force Unveiled an Ambitious Reorganization Plan. Can It Survive a Presidential Election?^[8]