WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statement after voting to confirm Pete Hegseth to serve as the next Secretary of Defense.
“Pete Hegseth has made it clear that he will put our men and women in uniform first as Secretary of Defense. As a combat veteran, he has seen firsthand the drain of bureaucracy in our Department of Defense that slows training and prevents us from innovating at the speed necessary to meet rising threats. In my conversations with Pete, I saw that he is committed to advancing policies that empower our warfighters and increase lethality. He has also assured me that he will focus on improving military recruitment and revitalizing our defense industrial base so that the ‘Arsenal of Democracy’ can once again produce the weapon systems we need to deter our adversaries. As a member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I will work closely with Pete to advance President Trump’s Peace Through Strength agenda and to make sure we have the world’s preeminent fighting force,” Senator Capito said.
Senator Capito previously met with Hegseth in December of 2024 to discuss his nomination and learn more about his vision to lead the department.
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