By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali and Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to head the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, came under fire during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday as Democrats railed against him and expressed deep concern about his inexperience, they said. drunkenness and former opposition to women in war. .

Hegseth, a former Fox News host, is one of the most controversial figures nominated to be Secretary of Defense. The 44-year-old has criticized diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the military, and, in his latest book, questioned whether the top US general has a job because he is Black.

Before his nomination, Hegseth strongly opposed women in combat roles but reversed that stance during the most contentious confirmation hearing in memory for a US defense secretary.

“Mr. Hegseth, I do not believe you are qualified to meet the many demands of this job,” said Senator Jack Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Reed criticized an FBI investigation into Hegseth’s past, saying it failed to adequately investigate several allegations against him. The FBI declined to comment.

Several episodes have raised concerns among lawmakers, including a 2017 sexual assault allegation against Hegseth that did not result in charges and which he denied. He was also accused of heavy drinking and financial mismanagement of veterans’ organizations. Hegseth vowed to abstain from alcohol if confirmed and said he had made some financial mistakes but denied any wrongdoing.

Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand criticized Hegseth’s past remarks about women in the US military, saying he needs to change how he views women who make up 18% of the US military.

“We have hundreds – HUNDREDS – of women serving in the infantry, deadly members of our military … But you put them down,” Gillibrand said, raising her voice in a heated exchange.

“Please clarify these types of statements because they are brutal, and they are not good.”

Despite strong support from Trump’s Republicans, Hegseth’s confirmation may depend on his performance before the committee. As Hegseth walked into the packed hearing room, he was met with cheers and a standing ovation from supporters, along with chants of “USA, USA, USA” and a shout of “Get ’em, Petey.”

Senator Roger Wicker, the Republican who chairs the committee, endorsed Hegseth, saying: “Honestly, this nomination is unconventional. The nominee is unconventional.”

“As for his personal conduct, Mr. Hegseth admits to failing, as we all do from time to time,” Wicker said.

‘THE SCRIPTURE IS COMING’

Hegseth’s opening remarks to the committee, praising Trump, were repeatedly interrupted by protesters. He promised to restore a warrior culture to the US military and said “accountability is coming” for those who failed.

Reuters was the first to report that the incoming Trump administration was drawing up a list of generals to fire.

“(Trump) believes, and I humbly agree, that it’s time to give someone with dust in his boots at the helm. An agent of change,” said Hegseth.

When asked about his comments against women in combat, Hegseth cited the need to remove quotas for frontline roles. Gillibrand returned with no such quotas in place.

She later told Republican Senator Joni Ernst, herself a veteran, that she would support women in combat roles “because the standards remain high, and we have a review to make sure that the standards are not broken.”

Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, a US Army veteran who lost both legs during the Iraq war, criticized Hegseth for gaps in his knowledge of foreign policy and his lack of in management experience. He stated that he was not ready to lead the Pentagon.

“You said you care about keeping our armed forces strong … then we’re not going to lower the standards for you. You sir, are a no-go on this station,” Duckworth said.

In a 2021 incident first reported by Reuters, Hegseth was labeled an “insider threat” by a fellow member of the Army National Guard because of his tattoos. Hegseth noted the incident during the hearing, which led to him being removed from the Guard post in Washington during the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

In recent weeks, Trump’s party has coalesced around his pick.

However, the slim Republican Senate majority means Hegseth could lose support from no more than three senators to be confirmed, if Democrats and independents unite against him.

Cabinet nominees almost never lose votes in the Senate, because they are usually recalled when they are in trouble.

The last nominee to lose was former Senator John Tower, a nominee to be Secretary of Defense, in 1989. Tower was investigated for claims of drunkenness and inappropriate behavior with women.

If confirmed, Hegseth could fulfill Trump’s promises to remove from the military generals he accuses of pursuing progressive diversity policies.

Hegseth, who has little managerial experience, will oversee an organization with a nearly $1 trillion budget, 1.3 million active-duty service members and nearly 1 million civilian workers.

The next secretary of defense will deal with a number of major issues abroad, including the active conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and China’s military expansion, issues that have received only a glimpse of attention during a hearing that focused more on culture war issues.