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Pete Hegseth The Fox News host is President-elect Trump's nominee for defense secretary.
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Pete Hegseth

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth steps out to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Pentagon during an honor cordon on Feb. 5.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth steps out to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Pentagon during an honor cordon on Feb. 5. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Politics

Pentagon proposes $50 billion in annual cuts and identifies priorities to expand

The Pentagon has proposed cutting 8% of its budget annually for five years but prioritized funding in areas like drones, military assistance for the southern border and a U.S. Iron Dome.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (center) speaks with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (right) and Finland's defense minister, Antti Hakkanen, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (center) speaks with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (right) and Finland's defense minister, Antti Hakkanen, at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Thursday. Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP hide caption

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Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP

World

As Trump touts Putin talks, NATO allies insist Ukraine and Europe be included

Several NATO allies stressed that Ukraine and Europe must not be cut out of any peace talks, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied that the U.S. is betraying Ukraine.

A Ukrainian tank passes by a burning car near the Russian-Ukrainian border, Sumy region, Ukraine, on Aug. 14, 2024.

A Ukrainian tank passes by a burning car near the Russian-Ukrainian border, Sumy region, Ukraine, on Aug. 14, 2024. Evgeniy Maloletka/AP hide caption

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Evgeniy Maloletka/AP

Ukraine invasion — explained

Trump says he will meet Putin to start talks to end the war in Ukraine

President Trump says he will meet President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia, after phone calls with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine to start peace negotiations.

HEGSETH PLEDGES US SUPPORT TO NATO AND UKRAINE

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Side by side signs for Fort Bragg and Fort Liberty.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the Army base that has been called Fort Liberty since 2023 will revert to its original name, Fort Bragg. Chris Seward;AP/Allison Joyce; AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Chris Seward;AP/Allison Joyce; AFP via Getty Images

National

Fort Bragg 2.0: Army base reverts to its old name, but with a new namesake

A U.S. Army base originally named after a Confederate general, then renamed Fort Liberty, will revert to the name Fort Bragg. Its new namesake is WWII hero Roland Bragg — unbeknownst to his family.

This photo provided by U.S. Africa Command, the U.S. military conducts coordinated airstrikes against Islamic State operatives in Somalia on Saturday.

This photo provided by U.S. Africa Command, the U.S. military conducts coordinated airstrikes against Islamic State operatives in Somalia on Saturday. AP/U.S. Africa Command hide caption

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AP/U.S. Africa Command

National Security

Trump says airstrikes on ISIS in Somalia killed terrorists without 'harming civilians'

In a Truth Social post Saturday, President Trump announced successful precision airstrikes on the "Senior ISIS Attack Planner," though didn't provide a name for that individual.

Pete Hegseth, President Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, speaks during a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Jan. 14.

Pete Hegseth, President Trump's nominee for secretary of defense, speaks during a Senate Armed Services confirmation hearing on Jan. 14. Chen Mengtong/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images hide caption

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Chen Mengtong/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images

Politics

Pete Hegseth, Trump's embattled pick for defense secretary, wins Senate confirmation

Vice President Vance cast a tie-breaking vote as Hegseth overcame allegations of sexual assault, public drunkenness and questions of financial mismanagement to win Senate approval.

Pete Hegseth, President Trump's choice to be defense secretary, appears during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan 14.

Pete Hegseth, President Trump's choice to be defense secretary, appears during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on Jan 14. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images hide caption

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Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Politics

Affidavit by Hegseth's ex-sister-in-law makes new claims about his behavior

Hegseth was voted out of committee Monday along party lines. The Senate is expected to take up his nomination soon; it is unclear how these new allegations will alter the trajectory of his nomination.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Defense, and his wife Jennifer Rauchet walk through the Russell Senate Office building on Capitol Hill on Dec. 3, 2024.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of Defense, and his wife Jennifer Rauchet walk through the Russell Senate Office building on Capitol Hill on Dec. 3, 2024. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Politics

Trump's Defense pick Hegseth is under scrutiny. But he says he's 'not going anywhere'

Pete Hegseth is fighting to keep his nomination on track after a series of negative reports about his past behavior — including a damning email his mother sent him during his second divorce.

Trump’s Defense pick Hegseth is under scrutiny. But he says he's 'not going anywhere'

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