In a nail-biter of a vote, the Senate confirmed Pete Hegseth as the new Secretary of Defense, thanks to Vice President JD Vance stepping in to break a 50-50 tie. This decision is a big win for former President Donald Trump and his team, who have been pushing hard for Hegseth despite a rocky confirmation process.

Hegseth’s nomination faced strong opposition, with three Republican senators—Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Mitch McConnell—joining Democrats to vote against him. This rare tie-breaking move by Vance marks only the second time in history a vice president has cast the deciding vote for a Cabinet nominee. The first was Mike Pence in 2017, helping Betsy DeVos become Education Secretary.

The new Defense Secretary has been under fire for allegations of sexual assault, alcohol abuse, and mismanagement of veterans’ charities, all of which he denies. Still, Trump has stood firmly behind him, calling Hegseth a “great secretary” and celebrating the confirmation as a victory.

Hegseth, who will be sworn in Saturday morning, has promised to shake up the Pentagon. He aims to cut through what he calls “woke” policies and streamline the department’s bureaucracy. During his confirmation hearing, he emphasized restoring a “warrior culture” to the military.

But not everyone is convinced. McConnell, who voted against Hegseth, warned that swapping one set of “culture warriors” for another won’t fix the Pentagon’s challenges. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called Hegseth “one of the most erratic, unqualified, and unfit Cabinet nominees” in modern history.

Despite the criticism, Hegseth managed to secure enough support, with Senator Thom Tillis changing his mind after a two-hour conversation with the nominee. With the GOP’s slim majority, every vote counted, and Vance’s tie-breaker sealed the deal.

This confirmation is a significant moment for the Trump administration, but it also raises questions about the future of the Pentagon under Hegseth’s leadership. Only time will tell how his promises will play out.