By Morgan Rimmer, Ted Barrett and Manu Raju, CNN
(CNN) — 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.
Vice President JD Vance cast the 51-50 tie-breaking vote after former GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine joined Democrats to oppose Hegseth’s nomination.
It was just the second time in history that a vice president has broken a tie for a Cabinet nominee – the other being then-Vice President Mike Pence for Betsy DeVos’ 2017 confirmation to lead the Education Department.
Hegseth’s confirmation process has been mired in allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse and financial mismanagement of veterans’ charities, all of which he has denied. The Friday vote marked a significant victory for the Trump administration, which has gone to the mat backing Hegseth as its nominee, despite his lack of experience and allegations against him.
Hegseth was at in the Senate Friday night to watch his confirmation vote. As secretary, he has sworn to overhaul the Pentagon, particularly policies that he considers “woke,” and streamline the department’s bureaucracy.
Hegseth had been engaged with senators as his confirmation came down to the wire, according to senior adviser Eric Ueland, who said there had “been a lot of conversations between the secretary-designate and lots of senators.”
With their slim majority, Republicans could only afford to lose three Republican votes and still confirm Hegseth with a tie-breaking vote by Vance.
While Senate GOP leaders had been uncertain about how McConnell and Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina would vote as of Friday afternoon, Tillis ultimately voted in favor of the nomination.
The nominee had faced criticism in the days leading up to the vote.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Hegseth Friday morning, calling him “one of the most erratic, unqualified and unfit Cabinet nominees we have ever seen in modern times” and warning that his confirmation would endanger the “credibility of the Republican majority.”
“He has neither the character, the experience or the judgment required by the job,” the New York Democrat added.
Murkowski and Collins released statements criticizing Hegseth on Thursday, after they announced their opposition to his nomination. Murkowski later told CNN that Hegseth “lacks that strength of character” needed to lead the Department of Defense.
CNN’s Kit Maher contributed to this report.
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