Pete Hegseth confirmation hearing live updates: Trump defense secretary nominee’s opening statement revealed

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Defense has three priorities he hopes to carry out if he is confirmed as the next Secretary of Defense.

The Army Veteran will detail in his opening statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday how wants to restore a ‘warrior ethos’ to the Pentagon.

Additionally his mission includes wanting to ‘rebuild our military’ and ‘reestablish deterrence.’

‘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,’ Hegseth will say in prepared remarks.

[Trump], like me, wants a Pentagon laser-focused on warfighting, lethality, meritocracy, standards, and readiness. That’s it. That is my job.’

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter

Pete Hegseth’s financial disclosure released on Monday revealed he made $4.6 million over the last two years as a host on Fox News.

The 44-year-old Army veteran also made around $900,000 in speaking fees at non-profits, political action committees (PACS) and other conservative-centric organizations.

If he is confirmed to lead the Pentagon, which is highly likely in the Republican-controlled Congress, Hegseth will be taking home significantly less, and will be trading in his cushy Fox job for a highly regulated and under-the-microscope position.

As of October 2024, the Secretary of Defense’s annual salary clocked in at $246,400 – a massive payout for most Americans, but pennies compared to what Hegseth has become used to seeing in his pocket.

President-elect Donald Trump posted support of Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth and wished him luck in his confirmation.

It comes as Hegseth prepares to face his first confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday morning.