Takeaways From Pete Hegseth’s Confirmation Hearing

Pete Hegseth’s four-hour hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday was strikingly contentious. Democrats derided him as blatantly unqualified to oversee the Defense Department’s three million employees and $849 billion budget. Republicans acknowledged that he was an unconventional pick, but said he was just what the Pentagon needed. And Senator Joni Ernst, the Iowa Republican who is an influential member of the panel, said after the hearing that she had been won over.

Here are four takeaways from the hearing:

Hegseth looks as if he has the votes to get out of committee.

Despite all the fireworks at the proceeding, it seems that Mr. Hegseth has the votes he needs to move on. None of his answers seemed to disturb the Republicans who control the committee.

A vote has been scheduled for Monday after President-elect Donald J. Trump is sworn in and Mr. Hegseth’s nomination is expected to become official.

Less than six weeks ago, Ms. Ernst, a veteran with a reputation for being a principled leader on matters of sexual assault and the military, had voiced reservations about Mr. Hegseth.

But Mr. Trump’s hard-line backers paid for ads in Ms. Ernst’s home state, questioned her Republican bona fides on social media and even threatened to run primary challenges against her in 2026 to push her toward backing Mr. Hegseth as the nominee.

Several hours after the hearing ended, she announced her support for him on WHO Newsradio 1040, a radio station in Des Moines.