GOP Hegseth holdout questions SecDef nominee on her 3 top issues in military: ‘pull no punches’

Republican Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst took a strong stance during Tuesday morning’s hearing on the nomination of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Initially withholding public support for the former Fox News host, Ernst raised three key issues surrounding the military that were of utmost importance to her.

One of Ernst’s top concerns was the continued opportunity for women to serve in combat roles within the military. She directly questioned Hegseth on this matter, making it clear that she wanted reassurance that women would not be excluded from combat roles. Hegseth responded affirmatively, stating that women would have access to ground combat roles as long as the standards remained high, with a review process in place to ensure these standards were not compromised.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Ernst also pressed Hegseth on the need for a comprehensive audit of the Department of Defense, as well as the importance of combatting sexual assault within the military. She emphasized the need for a senior-level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response, to which Hegseth agreed to appoint if confirmed as Secretary of Defense.

Despite initial hesitations, Ernst ultimately signaled her endorsement of Hegseth’s nomination, recognizing the importance of supporting the Trump administration’s nominees. She emphasized the need for a fair hearing based on truth and expressed her support for Hegseth through the nomination process.

During the hearing, Democratic Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Kirsten Gillibrand also raised concerns about women in the military, questioning Hegseth on his previous statements regarding women’s roles in the military. Hegseth reiterated his commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for women in the military and addressing any concerns about standards being watered down.

Overall, Ernst’s questioning of Hegseth during the hearing demonstrated her dedication to important issues within the military and her commitment to ensuring that nominees for top positions uphold the values and standards of the armed forces. With Hegseth’s nomination still pending confirmation, it remains to be seen how his responses to Ernst’s questions will impact his potential role as Secretary of Defense.