Dan Sullivan

01/24/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/24/2025 23:38

Sullivan, Senate Vote to Confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary

01.24.25

WASHINGTON-U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Colonel, USMCR (ret.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and chair of the SASC Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support, voted tonight to confirm Pete Hegseth as the secretary of defense. Senator Sullivan met with Hegseth and received commitments from him to continue the historic build-up of the military in Alaska, in recognition of the state's critical importance to national defense, and restore the military's core warfighting mission. Hegseth has a decorated career of service in the U.S. Army, completing deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and earning two Bronze Stars and two Army Commendation Medals.

"After a number of substantive discussions with Pete Hegseth, including during his confirmation hearing, I am confident Mr. Hegseth will work to refocus our military on lethality, warfighting and peace through strength, as well as getting rid of the damaging woke policies of the Biden administration, some of which I witnessed firsthand as a Marine Corps Reserve Officer," said Sen. Sullivan. "These have been my top priorities as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and they will be Mr. Hegseth's. Mr. Hegseth also assured me that he understands the important role that women play in our military, including in combat, as well as the strategic importance of Alaska. Along with President Trump, he is also committed to continuing the military build-up in our great state. I want to congratulate the incoming secretary of defense on his confirmation and look forward to welcoming him up to Alaska soon to see firsthand the critical strategic asset our state is to our national security."

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