当地时间1月24日，美国参议院举行投票，批准确认皮特·海格塞斯出任国防部长。本次参议院投票中，赞同皮特·海格塞斯出任防长和反对其出任防长的票数一度达到50比50，最终在美国副总统万斯投下支持票后，参议院最终批准确认皮特·海格塞斯出任美国防长。
The Senate narrowly voted to confirm embattled Pete Hegseth as secretary of the Department of Defense, in a major win for President Donald Trump and his new administration. Vice President JD Vance cast the 51-50 tie-breaking vote after former GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and GOP Sens.
本月20日，美国参议院军事委员会以14票对13票的结果通过了海格塞斯的提名，于23日以51票赞成、49票反对的结果推进了他的提名确认程序。
海格塞斯于1980年出生，目前担任福克斯新闻电视主持人，曾在美国陆军国民警卫队服役，后派驻阿富汗和伊拉克。海格塞斯2014年以特约评论员身份加入福克斯新闻，负责军事事务和外交政策领域的点评。从2016年底开始，他成为该频道一档周末早间节目的主持人。此前，特朗普去年11月提名他出任国防部长。
Hegseth, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, joined Fox News in 2014 as a contributor and eventually became co-host of "Fox & Friends Weekend." He left his job at the network after Trump said he intended to nominate him to lead the Department of Defense.
路透社写道，海格塞斯是赢得美国军方最高职位的最具争议的候选人，这一职位历来由那些拥有丰富的大规模组织管理经验并且享有两党支持的候选人担任。这也是美国历史上第二次内阁提名人选需要通过打破平票来获得上任批准。
Hegseth is the most divisive candidate to clinch the US military's top job, a position that has historically gone to candidates with deep experience running large organizations and who enjoy broad bipartisan support. It was only the second time in history a cabinet nominee needed a tie-break to be confirmed.
CNN报道称，在任命确认过程中，海格塞斯收到了来自各方的批评。投票反对者认为他缺乏领导国防部所需的品质和管理经验，也没有判断力，称他是“我们在现代历史上所见过的最不稳定、最不合格、最不适合的内阁提名人。”并且发出警告如果他被确认，将危及“共和党多数的信誉”。
Murkowski later told CNN that Hegseth “lacks that strength of character” needed to lead the Department of Defense.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Hegseth Friday morning, calling him “one of the most erratic, unqualified and unfit Cabinet nominees we have ever seen in modern times” and warning that his confirmation would endanger the “credibility of the Republican majority.”
同时海格塞斯也一直受到性侵、酒精滥用和退伍军人慈善机构的财务管理不当等指控，但他对这些指控均予以否认。
特朗普表示，他不在乎众参议员的异议，因为“重要的是赢得胜利”。并且表示“我们有一位非常出色的国防部长，我们非常高兴。”（We have a great secretary of defense and we're very happy.）
来源：中国日报双语新闻
