{"id":2394821,"date":"2025-01-24T13:01:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T18:01:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sens-who-confirmed-austin-have-no-reason-to-oppose-hegseth\/"},"modified":"2025-01-24T13:02:22","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T18:02:22","slug":"sens-who-confirmed-austin-have-no-reason-to-oppose-hegseth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sens-who-confirmed-austin-have-no-reason-to-oppose-hegseth\/","title":{"rendered":"Sens. Who Confirmed Austin Have No Reason To Oppose Hegseth"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsens-who-confirmed-austin-have-no-reason-to-oppose-hegseth%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2394821&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan\u200c Collins have \u200dexpressed their opposition to President donald Trump&#8217;s \u200cnominee \u2063for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, citing concerns\u200c over his qualifications for the role. Murkowski publicly \u2062stated that \u2063she cannot support Hegseth&#8217;s nomination,\u2063 emphasizing the need for strong\u200b character in the\u2064 position,\u200b while Collins echoed similar sentiments regarding Hegseth&#8217;s\u2062 lack of\u2063 necessary experience.Both senators, however, previously voted to confirm Biden&#8217;s \u2062Secretary of Defense, lloyd \u200dAustin, despite criticisms of his leadership during crises like the \u2064Afghanistan withdrawal. The article suggests that Murkowski \u200dand \u200dCollins are using Hegseth&#8217;s nomination as a means to align with democratic narratives, raising questions about\u200d their genuine concerns for \u200cnational security. It concludes by indicating that their actions may have ramifications in \u200bupcoming \u2064electoral challenges from\u2062 Republican voters displeased with \u2063their decisions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine are hinging their opposition to the confirmation of President Donald Trump&rsquo;s pick for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, on their alleged concern that he is not fit to handle the pressures of the Pentagon job.<\/p>\n<p>Their <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">paragraphs-long attempts<\/a> to justify why they are going against the will of their GOP voters, however, pale in the face of their voting records for a cabinet member who <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/01\/16\/report-defense-secretary-lloyd-austin-went-mia-twice-last-year-and-didnt-tell-congress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">abandoned his post twice<\/a> without notifying Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Murkowski <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/lisamurkowski\/status\/1882496900223377719\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">announced<\/a> Thursday on X that she &ldquo;cannot in good conscience support [Hegseth&rsquo;s] nomination for Secretary of Defense&rdquo; because she believes he is ill-equipped to undertake the &ldquo;immense responsibility.&rdquo; She also bought into the Democrat and <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2025\/01\/22\/medias-regurgitation-of-baseless-hegseth-allegations-prove-they-learned-nothing-post-election\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">corporate media-led<\/a> smear campaign to defame Hegseth&rsquo;s name, claiming that the allegations published on the front pages of propaganda outlets are &ldquo;unbecoming of someone who would lead our armed forces.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Above all, I believe that character is the defining trait required of the Secretary of Defense, and must be prioritized without compromise. The leader of the Department of Defense must demonstrate and model the standards of behavior and character we expect of all servicemembers, and Mr. Hegseth&rsquo;s nomination to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pete-hegseth-clears-first-senate-hurdle-with-two-gop-defections-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Pete Hegseth clears first Senate hurdle with two GOP defections - Washington Examiner\">role poses significant concerns<\/a> that I cannot overlook. Given the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/josh-hawley-wants-the-us-to-abandon-its-pledge-to-let-ukraine-join-nato\/\" title=\"Josh Hawley Wants The US To Abandon Its Pledge To Let Ukraine Join NATO\">global security environment<\/a> we&rsquo;re operating in, it is critical that we confirm a Secretary of Defense, however, I regret that I am unable to support Mr. Hegseth,&rdquo; she wrote. <\/p>\n<p>Collins similarly declined to vote in favor of Hegseth&rsquo;s confirmation because she claimed to be  &ldquo;concerned that he does not have the experience and perspective necessary to succeed in the job.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>She acknowledged in her post on X that the nation&rsquo;s military is in dire straits thanks to &ldquo;ineffective leadership by the Biden Administration&rdquo; but claimed Hegseth &ldquo;does not have the management experience and background that he will need in order to tackle these difficulties.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">After careful consideration, I have decided to vote against Pete Hegseth&rsquo;s nomination for Secretary of Defense. While I appreciate his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/murkowski-and-collins-come-out-against-hegseth-i-believe-character-is-the-defining-trait-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Murkowski and Collins come out against Hegseth: \u2018I believe character is the defining trait\u2019 - Washington Examiner\">courageous military service<\/a> and his ongoing commitment to our servicemembers and their families, I am concerned that he does not have the&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SenatorCollins\/status\/1882517564435140987?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 23, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Both Murkowski and Collins <a href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/legislative\/LIS\/roll_call_votes\/vote1171\/vote_117_1_00005.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">helped Senate Democrats confirm<\/a> President Joe Biden&rsquo;s Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, without blinking an eye.<\/p>\n<p>The retired general was not handed the job because of his adept ability to lead and handle, in Murkowski&rsquo;s words, the &ldquo;immense responsibility&rdquo; of running the Department of Defense. Instead, Biden chose Austin because he would fulfill <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2020\/12\/11\/women-lose-identity-politics-battle-over-bidens-pentagon-pick\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Democrats&rsquo; desire<\/a> that &ldquo;every member of the armed forces is treated with dignity and respect, including Black, Latino, Asian American, Native American, women, and LGBTQ service members.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Once in office, Austin oversaw the Biden administration&rsquo;s penchant for bumbling into global crises with the disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal and U.S. involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war. He spent more time fighting for taxpayer-funded abortions, <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/06\/22\/defense-secretary-austin-needs-to-obey-orders-and-end-the-military-vaccine-mandate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">forced Covid jabs<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/04\/20\/bidens-racial-equity-order-threatens-the-meritocracy-that-makes-our-military-great\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/walmart-agrees-to-dump-policies-pushing-dei-gender-ideology\/\" title=\"Walmart Agrees To Dump Policies Pushing DEI, Gender Ideology\">racial equity&#038;rdquo<\/a>;<\/a> for service members than he did actually fortifying the <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/01\/09\/politicos-who-attacked-tubervilles-abortion-protest-over-military-readiness-are-mia-on-defense-secs-secret-leave\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">military readiness<\/a> he claimed pro-life Republicans such as Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., threatened.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Where were the GOP senators&rsquo; concerns about national security and the character of cabinet members they helped install Austin? <\/p>\n<p>If Murkowski and Collins were actually worried about the dire state of the U.S. military, they would welcome a mover and shaker like Hegseth with open arms. Instead, they have are hiding their willingness to side with Democrats behind bad faith smears.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Hegseth needs all but three GOP senators&rsquo; support to clench confirmation. Sens.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/12\/04\/trump-world-sources-joni-ernst-is-waging-aggressive-personal-jihad-against-hegseth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Joni Ernst<\/a> of Iowa&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/12\/13\/gop-sen-todd-young-invites-a-primary-challenge-by-refusing-to-back-hegseth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Todd Young<\/a>&nbsp;of Indiana toyed with tanking Hegseth but were deterred by the promise of primary challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Murkowski especially <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/bennyjohnson\/status\/1867586850757427235\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">knows the consequences<\/a> she could face for contradicting the voters who elected her to office. Yet, she feels protected enough by <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ShawnFleetwood\/status\/1882504336410108080\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">her political allies&rsquo; ranked choice voting shenanigans<\/a> to continue her crusade against Trump and his picks. <\/p>\n<p>Murkowski and Collins can pretend all they want that their opposition to Hegseth is moral and just. In reality, their failure to vote for Hegseth is a partisan scheme that, if their Republican voters have anything to say about it, will not be forgotten easily. <\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Jordan Boyd is a staff writer at The Federalist and producer of The Federalist Radio Hour. Her work has also been featured in The Daily Wire, Fox News, and RealClearPolitics. Jordan graduated from Baylor University where she majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow her on X @jordanboydtx.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Murkowski and Collins oppose Hegseth&#8217;s confirmation, citing concerns about his fitness for the role<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":490,"featured_media":2394822,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-23-at-2.48.29%E2%80%AFPM-e1737668609151-1024x546.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[9230,16629,45173,5894,3740],"class_list":["post-2394821","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-austin","tag-confirmation","tag-hegseth","tag-politics","tag-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-23-at-2.48.29%E2%80%AFPM-e1737668609151-1024x546.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394821","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/490"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2394821"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394821\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2394825,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2394821\/revisions\/2394825"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2394822"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2394821"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2394821"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2394821"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}