The Senate Armed Services Committee on Monday favorably reported, 14-13, the nomination of Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s pick to run the Defense Department, on a party-line vote that will likely spell partisan opposition for Hegseth in the days ahead.

Senators voted 51-49 to advance Hegseth's defense secretary bid, which has been mired in several controversies. Two Republicans oppose him.

A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.

Robert Salesses will serve as President Donald Trump’s acting defense secretary as the nomination of Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department lingers in the Senate.

With two G.O.P. senators opposed, Pete Hegseth, President Trump’s pick for defense secretary, can afford to lose only one more. If he is confirmed, it is likely to be by the smallest margin for that post in modern times.

U.S. Senate Republicans on Thursday advanced the nomination of veteran and onetime Fox News host Pete Hegseth to lead the nation’s military, despite numerous allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual misconduct,

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon, cleared a key procedural hurdle in the Senate on Thursday to advance his nomination.

Spotted in the crowd were Sean Parnell, a former Army Ranger and conservative media personality, and Tim Kennedy, an ex-UFC fighter and former Green Beret. The group, which was buzzing with excitement ahead of the hearing, appeared to cheer for Hegseth and shout "USA!" as the hearing got underway.

Pete Hegseth has shown no evidence of being capable of managing the Pentagon behemoth.

The Pentagon on Monday swore in Robert G. Salesses as the acting secretary of Defense while President Trump’s nominee Pete Hegseth awaits Senate confirmation. Salesses was sworn in just after noon, according to a Defense official.

As Hegseth’s hearing proceeded before the Senate Armed Services Committee, there was an air of unreality to the nominee’s performance. Moreover, the committee’s Republican majority seemed to have little appreciation for the gravity of decisions required of the defense secretary.