McConnell joined Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, moderates from Maine and Alaska respectively, in creating what would have been a tie had Vice President JD Vance not broken it, in his first such vote as President of the Senate.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott stood by President Trump’s embattled Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth in a nail biter Friday night on the Senate floor.

ANALYSIS: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel all have their hearings next week, Eric Garcia reports

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.

Three Republicans voted with every Democrat against Trump’s controversial pick to lead the Pentagon, forcing Vance to step in and put Hegseth over the top.

Ryan English, 24, was carrying makeshift explosives and knives near the U.S. Capitol building on Monday, police charge in court papers.

Pete Hegseth, a former combat veteran and TV news show host, says he will be a "change agent" and a "warrior" for the department as Republicans demand new and strong leadership in the Pentagon.

Readers criticize the vote on the defense secretary nomination. Also: President Trump and tariffs; silencing health officials; firing of inspectors general; longevity.

Anti-establishment conservatives who opposed Thune for leader are satisfied but cautiously optimistic, as Trump turns up the pressure to confirm his nominees.

The Senate on Friday night voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as defense secretary after Vice President JD Vance stepped in to cast the tiebreaking vote. Hegseth’s nomination had been hampered by allegations of misconduct.