He made an unannounced stop to the Pentagon on Saturday after the swearing-in ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. There was no media coverage of his arrival. The Pentagon later released an official photo saying Hegseth was “ready to get to work on behalf of America’s warriors.”

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump's choice to be defense secretary, gives a thumbs-up at the completion of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee at the Capitol on Jan.

The new defense secretary’s goals run counter to the military’s apolitical tradition and efforts to build a force that mirrors America.

President Donald Trump said Monday he will sign a flurry of executive orders focused on the military, including to reinstate troops booted for refusing COVID-19 vaccines and remove

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin bid farewell Friday to the forces and personnel he has led through a tumultuous term that had three major military crises, a global pandemic and a personal brush with cancer that became a flashpoint for the way it was mishandled.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday released his priorities for the Pentagon soon after Vice President J.D. Vance cast the tiebreaking vote in the Senate and swore him into office.

Wicker did not specify what day the vote would take place, but said it could be as late as next Thursday if Senate Democrats do not allow the chamber to speed up the confirmation process.

Pete Hegseth narrowly secured enough votes on Friday to become the next U.S. defense secretary, a major victory for President Donald Trump after fierce opposition from Democrats and even some Republicans to his controversial nominee.

Columnist David Marcus writes that the three senators who voted against Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense seem to have missed the point while looking for a more traditional nominee.

Hegseth's confirmation is a narrow victory for Trump and supporters who want to see a warrior and change agent lead the Pentagon.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski is opposing the nomination of Pete Hegseth to be President Donald Trump's Defense secretary.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to revise the Pentagon’s policy on transgender troops, likely setting in motion a future ban on their military service.