CNN’s Manu Raju says former Republican senate leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voted “no” against Pete Hegseth’s confirmation for Defense Secretary indicating McConnell may be a bit of a wild card in the Republican Senate caucus.

The Senate narrowly voted to confirm embattled Pete Hegseth as secretary of the Department of Defense, in a major win for President Donald Trump and his new administration.

Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth has come under increased scrutiny over allegations of sexual misconduct and alcoholism.

The Iowa senator supports Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary, despite allegations of assault and drinking — but she doesn’t want to talk about it.

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he paid $50,000 to a woman who alleged he sexually assaulted her as part of a non-disclosure agreement,

Pete Hegseth could hardly be more suited to be Donald Trump’s secretary of Defense — even though he’d surely be deemed unqualified by any conventional president.

(CNN) — Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee to ... CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, Haley Britzky Michael Conte, Lauren Fox, Kaanita Iyer, Manu Raju and Haley Talbot contributed to this report.

Pete Hegseth’s ex-wife recently gave a new statement to the FBI about the defense nominee’s alcohol use, according to two sources familiar with the matter, an issue that has become a source of controversy during his confirmation process.

GOP senator Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a known “watchdog” for IGs, said Congress wasn’t given the 30 days’ notice from the White House required by federal law.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) broke ranks with Republicans and opposed President Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth during a Senate procedural vote that narrowly advanced the nomination to a confirmation vote.

The White House budget office has ordered a pause on all federal grants and loans. The freeze could impact trillions in government spending and halt public programs affecting millions of Americans. Follow for live updates.