LINDSBORG, Kan. (Bethany College) — The Bethany College Presidential Search Committee is excited to announce campus visits by three candidates for the 16th President of Bethany College.

The visits are scheduled for Feb. 3, 11, and 13. The Smoky Valley community is invited to meet the candidates from 5 PM to 6 PM on each of these days in the Chapel of the Welcome Center on the Bethany campus.

These visits represent the culmination of eight months of work by the Search Committee, which involved screening 55 applications, conducting many Zoom interviews, and holding in-person interviews. The campus interview is the final step before presenting the candidates to the Bethany Board of Directors.

&nbsp; Questions may be directed to the Search Committee at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:searchcommittee@bethanylb.edu" target="_blank">searchcommittee@bethanylb.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700231018488.png" alt="Bethany College Logo" />
 <figcaption>Bethany College Logo</figcaption>
 </figure>LINDSBORG, Kan. (Bethany College) — The Bethany College Presidential Search Committee is excited to announce campus visits by three candidates for the 16th President of Bethany College.The visits are scheduled for Feb. 3, 11, and 13. The Smoky Valley community is invited to meet the candidates from 5 PM to 6 PM on each of these days in the Chapel of the Welcome Center on the Bethany campus.These visits represent the culmination of eight months of work by the Search Committee, which involved screening 55 applications, conducting many Zoom interviews, and holding in-person interviews. The campus interview is the final step before presenting the candidates to the Bethany Board of Directors.&nbsp; Questions may be directed to the Search Committee at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:searchcommittee@bethanylb.edu" target="_blank">searchcommittee@bethanylb.edu</a>

Bethany College announces campus visits for presidential candidates

RICE COUNTY, Kan. — The Rice County Community Foundation, on behalf of the Rice County Early Childhood Coalition (RCECC), has been awarded a $30,000 grant from Child Care Aware of Kansas. This generous funding will support efforts to address the growing need for accessible, quality childcare in the region.&nbsp;

The Rice County Early Childhood Coalition was formed to tackle the critical shortage of childcare options available to local families and ensure that children have the resources they need to thrive. Through this grant, the Coalition will host three separate community events designed to engage different sectors of the community: business/industry, education and health, and general community members.&nbsp;

The events, scheduled between February and April 2025, will take place in Sterling, Lyons, and Little River. Each event will focus on educating participants about the current childcare landscape in Rice County and encourage further involvement from local stakeholders in building the childcare capacity in the region.&nbsp;

“We are incredibly grateful and excited for this funding and partnership with RCECC to bring together community leaders, educators, healthcare providers, and business owners to collaborate on solutions to our childcare challenges,” said Joy McBee, Executive Director of the Rice County Community Foundation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“These events will be an important step in not only identifying the challenges we face but also exploring innovative ways to improve access to quality care for our children,” added Kelly McClure, Coalition Lead.&nbsp;

The goal of these community events is to foster meaningful conversations that will generate new partnerships and resources to strengthen childcare infrastructure in Rice County. With the growing demand for childcare services, the Coalition’s initiatives aim to create a sustainable, community-driven approach that meets the needs of families and supports the region’s workforce.&nbsp;

Here is a list of the upcoming informative events:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737946067140.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>RICE COUNTY, Kan. — The Rice County Community Foundation, on behalf of the Rice County Early Childhood Coalition (RCECC), has been awarded a $30,000 grant from Child Care Aware of Kansas. This generous funding will support efforts to address the growing need for accessible, quality childcare in the region.&nbsp;The Rice County Early Childhood Coalition was formed to tackle the critical shortage of childcare options available to local families and ensure that children have the resources they need to thrive. Through this grant, the Coalition will host three separate community events designed to engage different sectors of the community: business/industry, education and health, and general community members.&nbsp;The events, scheduled between February and April 2025, will take place in Sterling, Lyons, and Little River. Each event will focus on educating participants about the current childcare landscape in Rice County and encourage further involvement from local stakeholders in building the childcare capacity in the region.&nbsp;“We are incredibly grateful and excited for this funding and partnership with RCECC to bring together community leaders, educators, healthcare providers, and business owners to collaborate on solutions to our childcare challenges,” said Joy McBee, Executive Director of the Rice County Community Foundation.&nbsp;&nbsp;“These events will be an important step in not only identifying the challenges we face but also exploring innovative ways to improve access to quality care for our children,” added Kelly McClure, Coalition Lead.&nbsp;The goal of these community events is to foster meaningful conversations that will generate new partnerships and resources to strengthen childcare infrastructure in Rice County. With the growing demand for childcare services, the Coalition’s initiatives aim to create a sustainable, community-driven approach that meets the needs of families and supports the region’s workforce.&nbsp;Here is a list of the upcoming informative events:<ul>
 <li>Sterling: Business/Industry, February 13th, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM at Studio 96&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Lyons: Education/Healthcare, March 10th, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM at Celebration Center Zwick East</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Little River: Community members, April 9th, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM&nbsp; at MTC</li>
 </ul>

Rice County Early Childhood Coalition receives $30,000 grant

WASHINGTON (AP) — Those binders full of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-has-trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0">executive orders</a>&nbsp;that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has been signing with a flourish and a wide-tipped Sharpie during his first week in office don’t just magically appear before him.

White House staff secretary Will Scharf has been a prominent part of the tableau, standing at Trump’s side and teeing up the leather-bound folders, one by one, for the president. With the cameras rolling, Scharf provides running narration on what Trump is signing, at times leaning into a nearby microphone at the president’s direction.

He was by Trump’s side Thursday as the president signed orders and memoranda at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. And in the first hours of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-scene-rotunda-republicans-second-term-618e452b9e8fe294095937b27816d21a">Trump’s return to power</a>, he was there with Trump at the Capitol, at a nearby rally and the White House as the president scrawled his name on stacks of orders implementing his agenda.

Scharf doesn’t just act the straight man as Trump talks up his orders, cracks jokes and fields questions from reporters. He also plays a key role in the White House, overseeing the flow of information and business coming to and from the president.

The staff secretary’s job has traditionally involved managing the papers that cross the president’s desk. It serves almost as air traffic control for the West Wing — tracking the drafting and approval of memos and statements as they work their way to the president’s desk and then out to the world.

The “StaffSec” coordinates the work of the White House policy, communications and legal teams as information flows around the building, and traditionally is a neutral arbiter in policy debates.

The staff secretary has nearly unparalleled visibility to the goings-on of the West Wing and leads one of the least-known but most impactful teams in a well-functioning White House.

Scharf was a member of Trump’s legal team before joining the new administration. He previously worked as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bailey-scharf-missouri-attorney-general-donors-raga-3d37564d77ded4169c9c523119bde97c">a policy director</a>&nbsp;for former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens and on the campaign of 2016 Republican gubernatorial candidate Catherine Hanaway.

He graduated from Princeton and Harvard Law School before moving to Missouri in 2011 to clerk for Judge Raymond Gruender on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. He also worked as an assistant U.S. attorney.

Trump tapped Scharf to be his staff secretary in November, citing his experience as a lawyer on the future president’s criminal cases and Scharf’s work during the first Trump presidency getting judges and justices confirmed. They included U.S. Supreme Court Justices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/brett-kavanaugh">Brett Kavanaugh</a>&nbsp;— who himself served as White House staff secretary for President George W. Bush — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/amy-coney-barrett">Amy Coney Barrett</a>.

Scharf joined Trump’s legal team in October 2023 and was one of the president’s lawyers in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-special-counsel-report-election-interference-4ef4ba2508baf3bb269abd4bcdc8e102">election interference case</a>&nbsp;brought by special counsel Jack Smith. The case went before the Supreme Court, which ruled that presidents enjoy sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.

Scharf is among several of Trump’s lawyers who have been rewarded with spots in his new administration. Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who defended Trump at his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-sentencing-stormy-daniels-33e070bd3c1acb609bba13f23d784a3a">hush money criminal trial</a>&nbsp;in New York, both got high-ranking Justice Department posts.

“Will Scharf is a brilliant legal mind who has extensive experience defending President Trump from the witch-hunts against him,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “Will is perfectly suited to help execute President Trump’s agenda in this important role.”

It’s not Scharf’s first time in the public eye

Scharf’s spot by Trump’s side as he rolled out his Day One executive actions was not his first time in public view. He has appeared on cable news and has written opinion columns discussing Trump’s legal cases.

In 2023, Scharf and Newsweek senior editor Josh Hammer co-founded a group called Jews Against Soros, launching a campaign arguing that criticism of George Soros, the billionaire Democratic donor and philanthropist, is not antisemitic.

Scharf ran unsuccessfully for Missouri attorney general in 2024, losing to incumbent Andrew Bailey. His campaign included&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/willscharf/status/1810661099764690975" target="_blank">a memorable ad</a>&nbsp;in which the mild-mannered lawyer appears to use a grenade launcher to fire on a pile of boxes that were labeled to look like they contained legal documents related to Trump’s criminal cases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737729381217.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Those binders full of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-has-trump-done-trump-executive-orders-f061fbe7f08c08d81509a6af20ef8fc0">executive orders</a>&nbsp;that President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has been signing with a flourish and a wide-tipped Sharpie during his first week in office don’t just magically appear before him.White House staff secretary Will Scharf has been a prominent part of the tableau, standing at Trump’s side and teeing up the leather-bound folders, one by one, for the president. With the cameras rolling, Scharf provides running narration on what Trump is signing, at times leaning into a nearby microphone at the president’s direction.He was by Trump’s side Thursday as the president signed orders and memoranda at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office. And in the first hours of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-scene-rotunda-republicans-second-term-618e452b9e8fe294095937b27816d21a">Trump’s return to power</a>, he was there with Trump at the Capitol, at a nearby rally and the White House as the president scrawled his name on stacks of orders implementing his agenda.Scharf doesn’t just act the straight man as Trump talks up his orders, cracks jokes and fields questions from reporters. He also plays a key role in the White House, overseeing the flow of information and business coming to and from the president.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737729569047.png" alt="Photo by Taylor Budowich, Assistant to the President" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Taylor Budowich, Assistant to the President</figcaption>
 </figure>A look at Scharf and his new job:<h2>The presidential in-box</h2>The staff secretary’s job has traditionally involved managing the papers that cross the president’s desk. It serves almost as air traffic control for the West Wing — tracking the drafting and approval of memos and statements as they work their way to the president’s desk and then out to the world.The “StaffSec” coordinates the work of the White House policy, communications and legal teams as information flows around the building, and traditionally is a neutral arbiter in policy debates.The staff secretary has nearly unparalleled visibility to the goings-on of the West Wing and leads one of the least-known but most impactful teams in a well-functioning White House.<h2>Who is Will Scharf?</h2>Scharf was a member of Trump’s legal team before joining the new administration. He previously worked as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bailey-scharf-missouri-attorney-general-donors-raga-3d37564d77ded4169c9c523119bde97c">a policy director</a>&nbsp;for former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens and on the campaign of 2016 Republican gubernatorial candidate Catherine Hanaway.He graduated from Princeton and Harvard Law School before moving to Missouri in 2011 to clerk for Judge Raymond Gruender on the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. He also worked as an assistant U.S. attorney.Trump tapped Scharf to be his staff secretary in November, citing his experience as a lawyer on the future president’s criminal cases and Scharf’s work during the first Trump presidency getting judges and justices confirmed. They included U.S. Supreme Court Justices&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/brett-kavanaugh">Brett Kavanaugh</a>&nbsp;— who himself served as White House staff secretary for President George W. Bush — and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/amy-coney-barrett">Amy Coney Barrett</a>.<h2>He helped Trump fight his legal battles</h2>Scharf joined Trump’s legal team in October 2023 and was one of the president’s lawyers in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-special-counsel-report-election-interference-4ef4ba2508baf3bb269abd4bcdc8e102">election interference case</a>&nbsp;brought by special counsel Jack Smith. The case went before the Supreme Court, which ruled that presidents enjoy sweeping immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts.Scharf is among several of Trump’s lawyers who have been rewarded with spots in his new administration. Todd Blanche and Emil Bove, who defended Trump at his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-sentencing-stormy-daniels-33e070bd3c1acb609bba13f23d784a3a">hush money criminal trial</a>&nbsp;in New York, both got high-ranking Justice Department posts.“Will Scharf is a brilliant legal mind who has extensive experience defending President Trump from the witch-hunts against him,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. “Will is perfectly suited to help execute President Trump’s agenda in this important role.”<h2>It’s not Scharf’s first time in the public eye</h2>Scharf’s spot by Trump’s side as he rolled out his Day One executive actions was not his first time in public view. He has appeared on cable news and has written opinion columns discussing Trump’s legal cases.In 2023, Scharf and Newsweek senior editor Josh Hammer co-founded a group called Jews Against Soros, launching a campaign arguing that criticism of George Soros, the billionaire Democratic donor and philanthropist, is not antisemitic.Scharf ran unsuccessfully for Missouri attorney general in 2024, losing to incumbent Andrew Bailey. His campaign included&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/willscharf/status/1810661099764690975" target="_blank">a memorable ad</a>&nbsp;in which the mild-mannered lawyer appears to use a grenade launcher to fire on a pile of boxes that were labeled to look like they contained legal documents related to Trump’s criminal cases.

Who’s the guy handing Trump those binders of executive orders? Meet Will Scharf

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/aj-dome/">AJ DOME</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/09/21/kansas-board-of-regents-sculpts-plan-for-boosting-state-aid-to-public-higher-education/?emci=78717300-c858-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;emdi=fc107f78-2659-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

GARDEN CITY — Kansas mental health experts want rural residents to be aware of available resources as they work to enhance mental health services across more of the state.

NAMI Kansas executive director Sherrie Vaughn said she and her staff are preparing for a rural mental health summit on April 9 in Kiowa, a community of about 900 people in south-central Kansas, to bring the conversation about mental health care to more rural and frontier areas.

The summit is a continuation of the nonprofit agency’s Standing in the Gap series that began&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/28/kansas-mental-health-experts-discuss-gaps-in-services-for-farmers-and-ranchers-at-inaugural-summit/">in 2023 in Dodge City</a>. NAMI Kansas southwest steering committee chairwoman Itzel Moya said the initial event and four subsequent sessions have been “a great way for rural and frontier communities to bring light to mental health topics and resources.”

At that initial event, mental health experts and agricultural producers shared stories about their own mental health struggles and vocalized a need for more widespread mental health care services, particularly in the western half of the state.

The April 9 event is set to take place at the Kiowa Community Building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.&nbsp;<a href="https://namikansas.org/get-involved/nami-kansas-events/sitg/" target="_blank">Registration is required</a>. The event will focus on how local faith leaders and church members can “stand in the gap” as links to mental health care for their communities, Vaughn said.

“Standing in the Gap presentations help to equip our local community leaders and members to start the conversation, learn about mental health conditions and statistical information, access its local resources, and seek solutions and opportunities to serve each other well,” Vaughn said.

Religious officials are often the first person to respond to a mental health crisis because of the lack of mental health care providers across the state, and because of preexisting trusting relationships formed within the community. At another Standing in the Gap event in November in Plainville, NAMI Kansas volunteer Tara Gwynn said Kansas has an average of one mental health care provider for every 450 residents.

In areas like Plainville, which is in Rooks County in north-central Kansas, Gwynn said the figure is closer to one provider per 4,000 people. But smaller communities often have multiple churches, all of which can have mental health information and support pamphlets available in view of their congregations.

Officials with the Kansas Department of Agriculture also are attempting to close the mental health care gap by partnering with Kansas Corn to offer the Kansas Ag Stress program. Created in 2019, the program website features&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasagstress.org/ag-aware-providers-in-kansas" target="_blank">a list of mental health care providers</a>&nbsp;who offer telehealth services or specialize in mental health needs related to the ag industry.

Additionally, Kansas Farm Bureau has the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kfb.org/Article/Mental-Health-Resources" target="_blank">Rural Minds Matter</a>&nbsp;program that includes training materials, links to mental health support guides, and the Advocate of the Year awards that were created in 2024. The inaugural Advocate of the Year award winner was Fort Hays State University professor and therapist Will Stutterheim. The first Young Advocate of the Year award recipient was Destiny Johnson, a pre-K through 12th-grade social worker for Stafford Unified School District 349.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate agricultural producers have a higher suicide rate than other professions. The CDC report, published in 2020 with data sourced in 2016, found that men who worked in agriculture were at a greater risk, with a ratio of 43 deaths by suicide per 100,000 people. Statewide, the suicide rate for men is 19 per 100,000 people. According to data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, more than 500 Kansans died by suicide in 2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737927645951.png" alt=" NAMI Kansas executive director Sherrie Vaughn speaks at the inaugural Standing in the Gap summit in August 2023 in Dodge City. Vaughn and her staff are preparing for the next rural mental health summit, slated for April 9 in Kiowa. (AJ Dome for Kansas Reflector.)" />
 <figcaption> NAMI Kansas executive director Sherrie Vaughn speaks at the inaugural Standing in the Gap summit in August 2023 in Dodge City. Vaughn and her staff are preparing for the next rural mental health summit, slated for April 9 in Kiowa. (AJ Dome for Kansas Reflector.)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/aj-dome/">AJ DOME</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/09/21/kansas-board-of-regents-sculpts-plan-for-boosting-state-aid-to-public-higher-education/?emci=78717300-c858-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;emdi=fc107f78-2659-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>GARDEN CITY — Kansas mental health experts want rural residents to be aware of available resources as they work to enhance mental health services across more of the state.NAMI Kansas executive director Sherrie Vaughn said she and her staff are preparing for a rural mental health summit on April 9 in Kiowa, a community of about 900 people in south-central Kansas, to bring the conversation about mental health care to more rural and frontier areas.The summit is a continuation of the nonprofit agency’s Standing in the Gap series that began&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/08/28/kansas-mental-health-experts-discuss-gaps-in-services-for-farmers-and-ranchers-at-inaugural-summit/">in 2023 in Dodge City</a>. NAMI Kansas southwest steering committee chairwoman Itzel Moya said the initial event and four subsequent sessions have been “a great way for rural and frontier communities to bring light to mental health topics and resources.”At that initial event, mental health experts and agricultural producers shared stories about their own mental health struggles and vocalized a need for more widespread mental health care services, particularly in the western half of the state.The April 9 event is set to take place at the Kiowa Community Building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.&nbsp;<a href="https://namikansas.org/get-involved/nami-kansas-events/sitg/" target="_blank">Registration is required</a>. The event will focus on how local faith leaders and church members can “stand in the gap” as links to mental health care for their communities, Vaughn said.“Standing in the Gap presentations help to equip our local community leaders and members to start the conversation, learn about mental health conditions and statistical information, access its local resources, and seek solutions and opportunities to serve each other well,” Vaughn said.Religious officials are often the first person to respond to a mental health crisis because of the lack of mental health care providers across the state, and because of preexisting trusting relationships formed within the community. At another Standing in the Gap event in November in Plainville, NAMI Kansas volunteer Tara Gwynn said Kansas has an average of one mental health care provider for every 450 residents.In areas like Plainville, which is in Rooks County in north-central Kansas, Gwynn said the figure is closer to one provider per 4,000 people. But smaller communities often have multiple churches, all of which can have mental health information and support pamphlets available in view of their congregations.Officials with the Kansas Department of Agriculture also are attempting to close the mental health care gap by partnering with Kansas Corn to offer the Kansas Ag Stress program. Created in 2019, the program website features&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansasagstress.org/ag-aware-providers-in-kansas" target="_blank">a list of mental health care providers</a>&nbsp;who offer telehealth services or specialize in mental health needs related to the ag industry.Additionally, Kansas Farm Bureau has the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kfb.org/Article/Mental-Health-Resources" target="_blank">Rural Minds Matter</a>&nbsp;program that includes training materials, links to mental health support guides, and the Advocate of the Year awards that were created in 2024. The inaugural Advocate of the Year award winner was Fort Hays State University professor and therapist Will Stutterheim. The first Young Advocate of the Year award recipient was Destiny Johnson, a pre-K through 12th-grade social worker for Stafford Unified School District 349.Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate agricultural producers have a higher suicide rate than other professions. The CDC report, published in 2020 with data sourced in 2016, found that men who worked in agriculture were at a greater risk, with a ratio of 43 deaths by suicide per 100,000 people. Statewide, the suicide rate for men is 19 per 100,000 people. According to data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, more than 500 Kansans died by suicide in 2023.

Kansas mental health professionals prepare listening session while working to enhance services

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22THOMAS%20BEAUMONT%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press</a>

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;was sworn in Saturday as the nation's 29th secretary of defense, quickly joining President Trump's Cabinet after a dramatic late-night vote in the Senate installed him as the Pentagon's leader.

Hegseth took the oath from Vice President JD Vance in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Rauchet, at his side and Republican senators looking on. The ceremony came less than 12 hours after Vance broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate to narrowly seal Hegseth's confirmation.

In brief remarks, Hegseth outlined what he said were his guiding principles: “Restore the warrior ethos in everything that we do, rebuild our military and reestablish deterrence.”

“We don’t want to fight wars,” he added. "We want to deter them … and we want to end them responsibly. But if we need to fight them, we’re going to bring overwhelming and decisive force to close with and destroy the enemy and bring our boys home.”

Hegseth thanked Vance for his tiebreaking vote and joked that his children were happy their father “won in overtime.”

Below is the emailed message Hegseth sent to members of the military and released Saturday by the Department.

It is the privilege of a lifetime to lead the warriors of the Department of Defense, under the leadership of our Commander in Chief Donald J. Trump. We will put America First, and we will never back down.The President gave us a clear mission: achieve Peace through Strength. We will do this in three ways — by restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, and reestablishing deterrence. &nbsp;

&nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will revive the warrior ethos and restore trust in our military. We are American warriors. We will defend our country. Our standards will be high, uncompromising, and clear. The strength of our military is our unity and our shared purpose.

&nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will rebuild our military by matching threats to capabilities. This means reviving our defense industrial base, reforming our acquisition process, passing a financial audit, and rapidly fielding emerging technologies. We will remain the strongest and most lethal force in the world.

&nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will reestablish deterrence by defending our homeland — on the ground and in the sky. We will work with allies and partners to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific by Communist China, as well as supporting the President's priority to end wars responsibly and reorient to key threats. We will stand by our allies — and our enemies are on notice.All of this will be done with a focus on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and readiness.I have committed my life to warfighters and their families.&nbsp;

Just as my fellow soldiers had my back on the battlefield, know that I will always have your back. We serve together at a dangerous time.&nbsp;Our enemies will neither rest nor relent. And neither will we. We will stand shoulder to shoulder to meet the urgency of this moment. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Like each of you, I love my country and swore an oath to defend the Constitution. We will do that each and every day, as one team. Together we will accomplish the President's mission to deter war, and if necessary, defeat and destroy our enemies. Godspeed!

“It is the honor of a lifetime, sir, to serve under you," Hegseth said, in thanking Trump, who was in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The unusually narrow confirmation for a defense secretary came after questions from members in both parties over Hegseth's qualifications to lead the military, especially amid allegations of heavy alcohol use and aggressive behavior toward women.

For Hegseth, the challenges ahead are steep, as he takes charge of a sprawling bureaucracy at a time of severe challenges around the globe.

He enters office with far less experience than modern defense secretaries before him, acknowledging during his confirmation hearing that he’ll need to build an experienced team as he settles into the job. “I want smarter and more capable people around me than me, and you will get that at the department,” he said in his testimony.

Hegseth also lacks the broad bipartisan support that most have brought to the role. Every Senate Democrat voted against Hegseth’s confirmation, as did three Republicans deeply skeptical of his qualifications for the job.

Adding to the acrimony, Hegseth refused to meet with any Democrats before confirmation, breaking from tradition.

Rarely has a Cabinet nominee faced such wide-ranging concerns about his experience — having been a combat veteran, veterans advocate and Fox News host — as well as behavior as Hegseth, particularly for such a high-profile role atop the U.S. military.

But the Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm Hegseth and round out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump’s</a>&nbsp;top national security team.

Democrats, the minority in the Senate, had helped confirm Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe in bipartisan votes. But they fiercely opposed Hegseth, with even the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee refusing to support him.

Reacting to the vote, Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer of New York said Republicans have “entrusted the most powerful military in the world to someone with no experience, terrible judgment and serious flaws of character.”

“I hope for the sake of our troops and the good of our country that he can eventually grow into the job,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.

Three Republicans — Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — also voted against Hegseth, questioning his qualifications for the job.

Hegseth faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-sexual-assault-allegations-trump-defense-secretary-677b2df5859a338feac4714c60ef369d">allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman</a>&nbsp;at a Republican conference in California, though he has denied the claims and said the encounter was consensual. He later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-sex-assault-payment-trump-6674cc8cfee654c374725948e01ff666">paid $50,000 to the woman</a>.

Hegseth also had promised during his confirmation hearings that he would not drink while on the job, were he to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, his opposition to women in combat became an issue after Trump announced his choice in November. But, in the face of questions from Congress, Hegseth appeared to shifted.

Asked about the issue on the “Megyn Kelly Show” in early December, Hegseth said he cares only that military standards are maintained. Women serve in combat, he said, and, “if we have the right standard and women meet that standard, roger. Let’s go.”

Hegseth told senators that he supports women in the military but wants to review standards to make sure they are not lowered to accommodate women.

At the swearing-in ceremony, a question directed to Hegseth about why women in the armed services should trust him was answered by Vance.

“All people in our armed services should trust him because he looks out for them and he is going to fight for them," Vance said.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22THOMAS%20BEAUMONT%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press</a><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;was sworn in Saturday as the nation's 29th secretary of defense, quickly joining President Trump's Cabinet after a dramatic late-night vote in the Senate installed him as the Pentagon's leader.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Vice President Vance swears in Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. <a href="https://t.co/IwNTin2Zuj">pic.twitter.com/IwNTin2Zuj</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1883187394700062747?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Hegseth took the oath from Vice President JD Vance in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Rauchet, at his side and Republican senators looking on. The ceremony came less than 12 hours after Vance broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate to narrowly seal Hegseth's confirmation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The honor of a lifetime. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/zEFnTxQ7iX">pic.twitter.com/zEFnTxQ7iX</a>&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1883193626739740999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In brief remarks, Hegseth outlined what he said were his guiding principles: “Restore the warrior ethos in everything that we do, rebuild our military and reestablish deterrence.”“We don’t want to fight wars,” he added. "We want to deter them … and we want to end them responsibly. But if we need to fight them, we’re going to bring overwhelming and decisive force to close with and destroy the enemy and bring our boys home.”Hegseth thanked Vance for his tiebreaking vote and joked that his children were happy their father “won in overtime.”Below is the emailed message Hegseth sent to members of the military and released Saturday by the Department.It is the privilege of a lifetime to lead the warriors of the Department of Defense, under the leadership of our Commander in Chief Donald J. Trump. We will put America First, and we will never back down.The President gave us a clear mission: achieve Peace through Strength. We will do this in three ways — by restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding our military, and reestablishing deterrence. &nbsp;&nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will revive the warrior ethos and restore trust in our military. We are American warriors. We will defend our country. Our standards will be high, uncompromising, and clear. The strength of our military is our unity and our shared purpose. &nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will rebuild our military by matching threats to capabilities. This means reviving our defense industrial base, reforming our acquisition process, passing a financial audit, and rapidly fielding emerging technologies. We will remain the strongest and most lethal force in the world.&nbsp;o&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;We will reestablish deterrence by defending our homeland — on the ground and in the sky. We will work with allies and partners to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific by Communist China, as well as supporting the President's priority to end wars responsibly and reorient to key threats. We will stand by our allies — and our enemies are on notice.All of this will be done with a focus on lethality, meritocracy, accountability, standards, and readiness.I have committed my life to warfighters and their families.&nbsp;Just as my fellow soldiers had my back on the battlefield, know that I will always have your back. We serve together at a dangerous time.&nbsp;Our enemies will neither rest nor relent. And neither will we. We will stand shoulder to shoulder to meet the urgency of this moment. &nbsp; &nbsp;Like each of you, I love my country and swore an oath to defend the Constitution. We will do that each and every day, as one team. Together we will accomplish the President's mission to deter war, and if necessary, defeat and destroy our enemies. Godspeed!“It is the honor of a lifetime, sir, to serve under you," Hegseth said, in thanking Trump, who was in Las Vegas on Saturday.The unusually narrow confirmation for a defense secretary came after questions from members in both parties over Hegseth's qualifications to lead the military, especially amid allegations of heavy alcohol use and aggressive behavior toward women.For Hegseth, the challenges ahead are steep, as he takes charge of a sprawling bureaucracy at a time of severe challenges around the globe.He enters office with far less experience than modern defense secretaries before him, acknowledging during his confirmation hearing that he’ll need to build an experienced team as he settles into the job. “I want smarter and more capable people around me than me, and you will get that at the department,” he said in his testimony.Hegseth also lacks the broad bipartisan support that most have brought to the role. Every Senate Democrat voted against Hegseth’s confirmation, as did three Republicans deeply skeptical of his qualifications for the job.Adding to the acrimony, Hegseth refused to meet with any Democrats before confirmation, breaking from tradition.Rarely has a Cabinet nominee faced such wide-ranging concerns about his experience — having been a combat veteran, veterans advocate and Fox News host — as well as behavior as Hegseth, particularly for such a high-profile role atop the U.S. military.But the Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm Hegseth and round out&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump’s</a>&nbsp;top national security team.Democrats, the minority in the Senate, had helped confirm Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe in bipartisan votes. But they fiercely opposed Hegseth, with even the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee refusing to support him.Reacting to the vote, Senate Democratic leader Charles Schumer of New York said Republicans have “entrusted the most powerful military in the world to someone with no experience, terrible judgment and serious flaws of character.”“I hope for the sake of our troops and the good of our country that he can eventually grow into the job,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.Three Republicans — Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — also voted against Hegseth, questioning his qualifications for the job.Hegseth faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-sexual-assault-allegations-trump-defense-secretary-677b2df5859a338feac4714c60ef369d">allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman</a>&nbsp;at a Republican conference in California, though he has denied the claims and said the encounter was consensual. He later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-sex-assault-payment-trump-6674cc8cfee654c374725948e01ff666">paid $50,000 to the woman</a>.Hegseth also had promised during his confirmation hearings that he would not drink while on the job, were he to be confirmed.Meanwhile, his opposition to women in combat became an issue after Trump announced his choice in November. But, in the face of questions from Congress, Hegseth appeared to shifted.Asked about the issue on the “Megyn Kelly Show” in early December, Hegseth said he cares only that military standards are maintained. Women serve in combat, he said, and, “if we have the right standard and women meet that standard, roger. Let’s go.”Hegseth told senators that he supports women in the military but wants to review standards to make sure they are not lowered to accommodate women.At the swearing-in ceremony, a question directed to Hegseth about why women in the armed services should trust him was answered by Vance.“All people in our armed services should trust him because he looks out for them and he is going to fight for them," Vance said.___Beaumont reported from Des Moines, Iowa.

Read first message to the military from man now in charge of the Pentagon 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kristi-noem">Kristi Noem</a>&nbsp;as homeland security secretary on Saturday, putting the South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national security and President Donald Trump's plans to clamp down on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-border-migrants-immigration-enforcement-a24389b7fd7875ef98b4ab45c14e8418">illegal immigration</a>.

Republicans kept the Senate working Saturday to install the latest member of Trump's national security team on a 59-34 vote. Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran was among seven&nbsp; Senators who missed the vote including Wyden and Merkley of Oregon, Warnock of Georgia, Smith of Minnesota, Schatz of Hawaii and King of Maine, according to the online report from the U.S. Senate.

Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cia-director-ratcliffe-trump-cabinet-national-intelligence-a73ceaef42086d46a728979189a9826b">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;was also confirmed in a dramatic tie-breaking vote Friday night, joining Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;and CIA Director&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cia-director-ratcliffe-trump-cabinet-national-intelligence-a73ceaef42086d46a728979189a9826b">John Ratcliffe</a>. The Senate will next vote Monday evening on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasury-election-scott-bessent-trump-e4df1ef61309ee78f2affc2d9eabeff1">Scott Bessent's</a>&nbsp;confirmation as treasury secretary.

Noem, a Trump ally who is in her second term as governor, received 7 votes from Democrats. Republicans, who already held the votes necessary to confirm her, have expressed confidence in her determination to lead border security and immigration enforcement.

On social media, Noem thanked Trump for “the confidence in me to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security.”

She added, “I will work to make America SAFE again!”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Friday, “Fixing this crisis and restoring respect for the rule of law is one of President Trump and Republicans’ top priorities. And it’s going to require a decisive and committed leader at the Department of Homeland Security."

Democrats are split on how to handle border enforcement and immigration under Trump, with some warming to his hard-line stand.

Still, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, as well as most other Democrats, voted against Noem. He pointed to “bipartisan solutions to fix the mess at our border," adding that Noem “seems headed in the wrong direction.”

The homeland security secretary oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services. Beyond those agencies, the department is also responsible for securing airline transportation, protecting dignitaries, responding to natural disasters and more.

Trump is planning major changes to how the department functions, including involving the military in immigration enforcement and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-fema-project-2025-56ff64f264403b8934ecbf1f91928d73">reshaping the Federal Emergency Management Agency</a>. Those plans will immediately put Noem in the spotlight after the new president visited recent disaster sites in North Carolina and California on Friday.

During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/noem-homeland-security-cabinet-trump-border-immigration-36ea11f8432078e08e71dce23c56d68c">her Senate hearing</a>, Noem was repeatedly asked by Democratic senators whether she would administer disaster aid to states even if Trump asked her not to.

Noem avoided saying she would defy the president, but told lawmakers, “I will deliver the programs according to the law and that it will be done with no political bias.”

Six people cycled through as homeland security secretary during Trump's first four years in office.

Noem, who held her state's lone U.S. House seat for eight years before becoming governor in 2019, has risen in the GOP by tacking closely with Trump. At one point, she was even under consideration to be his running mate.

Her political stock took a momentary dip, however, when she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-book-dog-killing-081bd1d6e73fba046ea7fb534da1c79e">released a book</a>&nbsp;last year containing an account of her killing her hunting dog, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-book-north-korea-90e61965e9ac486e52cec5b35da41f47">a false claim</a>&nbsp;that she once met with North Korean leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-iran-diplomacy-military-cooperation-russia-f82461908cb59a15a634747e9ab48f6c">Kim Jong Un</a>.

Noem will be tasked with delivering on Trump's favorite issue, border security. The president's goals of deporting millions of people who entered the country illegally could put Noem, with her experience governing a rural state and growing up on a farm,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-dhs-immigration-crackdown-trump-south-dakota-52bf133437d20f4dd6f5284bb751e264">in a difficult position</a>. In South Dakota, many migrants, some in the country without permanent legal status, power the labor-heavy jobs that produce food and housing.

She has so far pledged to faithfully execute the president's orders and copied his talk of an “invasion” at the U.S. border with Mexico.

Noem joined other Republican governors who sent National Guard troops to Texas to assist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-arrests-immigration-greg-abbott-civil-rights-violations-bcbfef0901b375c9301ade01a59eb1c9">Operation Lone Star</a>, which sought to discourage migrants. Her decision was especially criticized because she accepted a $1 million donation from a Tennessee billionaire to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-south-dakota-philanthropy-immigration-government-and-politics-ea0586be65e874578ca27ffcc690dba1">cover some of the deployment cost</a>.

Noem said she opted to send National Guard troops “because of this invasion," adding that “it is a war zone down there.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737817653128.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall with Noem January 11-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall with Noem January 11-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kristi-noem">Kristi Noem</a>&nbsp;as homeland security secretary on Saturday, putting the South Dakota governor in charge of a sprawling agency that is essential to national security and President Donald Trump's plans to clamp down on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-border-migrants-immigration-enforcement-a24389b7fd7875ef98b4ab45c14e8418">illegal immigration</a>.Republicans kept the Senate working Saturday to install the latest member of Trump's national security team on a 59-34 vote. Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran was among seven&nbsp; Senators who missed the vote including Wyden and Merkley of Oregon, Warnock of Georgia, Smith of Minnesota, Schatz of Hawaii and King of Maine, according to the online report from the U.S. Senate.Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cia-director-ratcliffe-trump-cabinet-national-intelligence-a73ceaef42086d46a728979189a9826b">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;was also confirmed in a dramatic tie-breaking vote Friday night, joining Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;and CIA Director&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cia-director-ratcliffe-trump-cabinet-national-intelligence-a73ceaef42086d46a728979189a9826b">John Ratcliffe</a>. The Senate will next vote Monday evening on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasury-election-scott-bessent-trump-e4df1ef61309ee78f2affc2d9eabeff1">Scott Bessent's</a>&nbsp;confirmation as treasury secretary.Noem, a Trump ally who is in her second term as governor, received 7 votes from Democrats. Republicans, who already held the votes necessary to confirm her, have expressed confidence in her determination to lead border security and immigration enforcement.On social media, Noem thanked Trump for “the confidence in me to serve as Secretary of Homeland Security.”She added, “I will work to make America SAFE again!”Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Friday, “Fixing this crisis and restoring respect for the rule of law is one of President Trump and Republicans’ top priorities. And it’s going to require a decisive and committed leader at the Department of Homeland Security."Democrats are split on how to handle border enforcement and immigration under Trump, with some warming to his hard-line stand.Still, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, as well as most other Democrats, voted against Noem. He pointed to “bipartisan solutions to fix the mess at our border," adding that Noem “seems headed in the wrong direction.”The homeland security secretary oversees U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services. Beyond those agencies, the department is also responsible for securing airline transportation, protecting dignitaries, responding to natural disasters and more.Trump is planning major changes to how the department functions, including involving the military in immigration enforcement and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-fema-project-2025-56ff64f264403b8934ecbf1f91928d73">reshaping the Federal Emergency Management Agency</a>. Those plans will immediately put Noem in the spotlight after the new president visited recent disaster sites in North Carolina and California on Friday.During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/noem-homeland-security-cabinet-trump-border-immigration-36ea11f8432078e08e71dce23c56d68c">her Senate hearing</a>, Noem was repeatedly asked by Democratic senators whether she would administer disaster aid to states even if Trump asked her not to.Noem avoided saying she would defy the president, but told lawmakers, “I will deliver the programs according to the law and that it will be done with no political bias.”Six people cycled through as homeland security secretary during Trump's first four years in office.Noem, who held her state's lone U.S. House seat for eight years before becoming governor in 2019, has risen in the GOP by tacking closely with Trump. At one point, she was even under consideration to be his running mate.Her political stock took a momentary dip, however, when she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-book-dog-killing-081bd1d6e73fba046ea7fb534da1c79e">released a book</a>&nbsp;last year containing an account of her killing her hunting dog, as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-book-north-korea-90e61965e9ac486e52cec5b35da41f47">a false claim</a>&nbsp;that she once met with North Korean leader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-iran-diplomacy-military-cooperation-russia-f82461908cb59a15a634747e9ab48f6c">Kim Jong Un</a>.Noem will be tasked with delivering on Trump's favorite issue, border security. The president's goals of deporting millions of people who entered the country illegally could put Noem, with her experience governing a rural state and growing up on a farm,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kristi-noem-dhs-immigration-crackdown-trump-south-dakota-52bf133437d20f4dd6f5284bb751e264">in a difficult position</a>. In South Dakota, many migrants, some in the country without permanent legal status, power the labor-heavy jobs that produce food and housing.She has so far pledged to faithfully execute the president's orders and copied his talk of an “invasion” at the U.S. border with Mexico.Noem joined other Republican governors who sent National Guard troops to Texas to assist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-arrests-immigration-greg-abbott-civil-rights-violations-bcbfef0901b375c9301ade01a59eb1c9">Operation Lone Star</a>, which sought to discourage migrants. Her decision was especially criticized because she accepted a $1 million donation from a Tennessee billionaire to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-south-dakota-philanthropy-immigration-government-and-politics-ea0586be65e874578ca27ffcc690dba1">cover some of the deployment cost</a>.Noem said she opted to send National Guard troops “because of this invasion," adding that “it is a war zone down there.”___

Moran missed vote as Senate confirms Noem for homeland security secretary

President Donald Trump started his second administration with a blitz of policy actions to reorient the U.S. government.

His executive orders cover issues that range from trade, immigration and U.S. foreign aid to demographic diversity, civil rights and the hiring of federal workers. Some have an immediate policy impact. Others are more symbolic. And some already are being challenged by federal lawsuits.

In total, the Republican president's sweeping actions reflect many of his campaign promises and determination to concentrate executive branch power in the West Wing, while moving the country sharply rightward.

Here is a comprehensive look at Trump's directives so far in his first three days:

• Designate an "invasion across the southern border of the United States," a move that triggers certain executive branch powers so, Trump says, his Cabinet "shall take appropriate action to repel, repatriate or remove any alien engaged in the invasion."

• Allow U.S. military service members to act as immigration and border enforcement officers as part of Trump's promised mass deportation program. Trump's order covers the Ready Reserve and National Guard, military property that could be used as detention space, ground and air transport vehicles and "other logistics services in support of civilian-controlled law enforcement operations." The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 has historically limited use of military personnel in domestic law enforcement actions. Trump's orders frame migrant flow as a national security threat, which he reasons justifies his military orders as commander in chief.

• Stop refugee arrivals and suspend the U.S. Refugee Admission Program effective Jan. 27, 2025, pending a 90-day review and recommendations from Homeland Security, the State Department and others.

• Redefine birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. A Trump order asserts that a child born in the U.S. is not a citizen if 1) the mother does not have legal immigration status or is in the country legally but only temporarily and 2) the father is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The order forbids U.S. agencies from issuing any document recognizing such a child as a citizen or accept any state document recognizing citizenship. This order is already being challenged in federal court.

• Prioritize continued construction of a wall and "other barriers" along the U.S.-Mexico border.

• Direct the attorney general and Homeland Security secretary to create Homeland Security Task Forces in all 50 states, comprising of state and local law enforcement charged with "ending the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations."

• Give the Homeland Security secretary wide latitude to establish agreements with individual state and local law enforcement agencies, "to the maximum extent permitted by law," that empower those non-federal officials to act as federal immigration officers.

• Require collection of DNA samples and fingerprints from immigration detainees under a 2005 federal law.

• Forbid so-called "catch-and-release" – which allows some migrants to remain in the U.S. while awaiting their immigration court proceedings – in favor of detention and deportation of anyone in the U.S. illegally.

• Direct Homeland Security to immediately devote resources and secure contractors "to construct, operate, control, or use facilities to detain removable aliens."

• End so-called "parole programs" (often referred to as "family reunification") that allow family members of certain citizens and permanent-resident immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to come to the U.S. while their visa applications are still pending.

• Require a review of all cases for all immigrants now in the U.S. under "Temporary Protected Status," with the stated intent of "ensuring ... that such designations are appropriately limited in scope" and last the minimum amount of time "necessary to fulfill the textual requirement" of federal law.

• Revert to vetting and screening standards used during Trump's first term for any person seeking a visa or "immigration benefit of any kind" and apply the standard visa vetting procedures to "any refugee or stateless individual" seeking admission.

• Repeal a Biden order requiring planning for the effects of climate change on world migration patterns.

• Direct the secretary of state and U.S. diplomats effectively to threaten sanctions against any nation seen as reluctant to accept and facilitate the return of its citizens the U.S. deports.

• Direct the State Department, Homeland Security and others to review and recommend changes to vetting for visas and produce a report to the president within 60 days. The order calls for identifying countries "for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a partial or full suspension" of admission to the U.S. for their citizens.

• Direct the attorney general and others to deny federal money to "so-called 'sanctuary'" cities the administration sees as interfering with federal immigration enforcement, with the caveat that the Trump administration pursues action "to the maximum extent possible under the law."

• Pause distribution of federal money to non-governmental organizations "supporting or providing services, either directly or indirectly, to removable or illegal aliens" pending reviews and audits to identify any operations that may "promote or facilitate violations of our immigration laws."

• Designate international cartels as "Foreign Terrorist Organizations" or "Specially Designated Global Terrorists" under existing federal law. The order triggers the Alien Enemies Act to combat cartels and their members.

• Require, within 30 days, the attorney general, secretary of state and others to "evaluate the adequacy of programs designed to ensure the proper assimilation of lawful immigrants into the United States, and recommend any additional measures ... that promote a unified American identity."

International trade, business and the economy

• Broadly direct all executive agencies to tailor their policies to reduce consumer prices. Trump wants a progress report from a top White House economic adviser every 30 days.

• Direct the treasury and commerce secretaries, U.S trade representative and others to examine causes of U.S. trade deficits, identify unfair trade practices and make recommendations, potentially including "a global supplemental tariff."

• Begin review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Trump's first-administration rewrite of NAFTA, with an eye to a renegotiation in 2026 or sooner. Trump said he plans 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods as of Feb. 1, but he has not signed such executive actions so far.

• Begin establishment of an "External Revenue Service to collect tariffs, duties and other foreign trade-related revenues."

• Begin review of U.S. trade dealings with China to consider new or increased tariffs. As a candidate, Trump threatened Chinese tariffs as high as 60%.

• Order review of fentanyl flows into the U.S., specifically from Canada, Mexico and China, and make recommendations, including potential tariffs and sanctions.

• Direct the commerce and trade secretaries and the U.S. trade representative to consolidate multiple reviews and assessments. Trump ordered consolidated reports by April 1.

• Suspend U.S. participation in the Global Tax Deal, an international agreement intended to set a minimum corporate tax globally to prevent multinational corporations from avoiding taxation altogether.

• Pause the U.S. ban on TikTok for 75 days, specifically barring the attorney general from enforcing the law Congress passed in 2024 to allow the new administration to assess national security concerns and seek a potential American buyer for the popular digital platform.

• Bar U.S. government officials from pushing social media companies to combat misinformation and disinformation. Trump's order states that such previous efforts "infringed on the constitutionally protected speech rights of American citizens" and "advanced the Government's preferred narrative about significant matters of public debate."

• Withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, which committed nations to pursue policies limiting carbon emissions that cause climate change. The order blocks transfer of U.S. funds previously obligated to the International Climate Finance Plan.

• Declare a "national energy emergency." This is both a symbolic measure reflecting Trump's promise of energy expansion but also specifically urges federal use of eminent domain and the Defense Production Act, measures that allow the government to commandeer private land and resources to produce goods deemed to be a national necessity.

• Compel the Army Corps of Engineers to use "to the fullest extent possible" its emergency permitting provisions to speed energy projects and urge all agencies to use similar emergency procedures that expedite or bypass permitting processes under the Endangered Species Act or other federal laws that protect wildlife.

• Eliminate Biden policies intended to encourage electrical vehicle development and purchases — part of Trump's effort to limit non-fossil fuel energy sectors.

• Require all agencies within 30 days to submit to the White House Office of Management and Budget their plans to eliminate regulations and rules deemed "burdensome" to domestic energy production and consumption, "with particular attention to oil, natural gas, coal, hydropower, biofuels, critical mineral, and nuclear energy."

• Repeal multiple Biden orders and memoranda regarding climate change, including guidelines for implementing climate-related provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; an effort to assess financial risks of not combating climate change; and establishment of a President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

• Streamline other fossil fuel extraction in Alaska with a command to "rescind, revoke, revise, amend, defer or grant exemptions from any and all" regulatory actions relevant in the state. Specifically, Trump is restoring any suspended fossil fuel leases within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

• Deny a pending U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service request to create an indigenous sacred site within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

• Restore first Trump administration rules on hunting and trapping in national preserves in Alaska. Order the Interior Department to align federal rules on hunting and fishing in Alaska with rules for state-government lands.

• Roll back other Biden era limits or regulations on fossil fuel extraction on federal lands.

• Make the Outer Continental Shelf ineligible for wind energy leases — another limitation on non-fossil fuel development.

• Reengage a legal and regulatory battle with California state government over water routes from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Trump wants to override fish and wildlife protection efforts to route more of the water to the Central Valley and Southern California.

Diversity, transgender rights and civil rights

• Give executive branch departments and agencies 60 days to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, including all "chief diversity officer" jobs, "equity action plans" and "environmental justice" positions. Require departments and agencies to give the White House Office of Management and Budget an accounting of previous DEI efforts, including names of relevant DEI contractors and DEI grant recipients. Terminate a 60-year-old executive order setting anti-discrimination requirements for government agencies and contractors.

• A separate OMB memo effectively put all federal DEI officers on immediate leave pending their elimination.

• Repeal several Biden-era directives on racial and ethnic equity and LGBTQ rights. They included orders intending to ensure equitable distribution of federal money based on the 2020 census; preventing government discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation and specifically encouraging inclusion in school settings; White House educational initiatives for Native Americans, Hispanics and Black Americans; and an order expressly allowing transgender persons to serve in the military.

• Require that the U.S. government recognize two genders only – male and female – on passports, visas, Global Entry cards and all other forms and documents, and in all programs and communications.

• Mandate that all federal civil rights law and labor law be interpreted and enforced with the understanding that "'sex' is not a synonym for and does not include the concept of 'gender identity.'"

• Dissolve the White House Gender Policy Council and repeal Department of Education guidelines on Title IX concerning transgender rights and various documents advising schools on how to support and protect LGBTQ persons.

• Forbid federal money, including grants, from being used to "promote gender ideology" and direct the attorney general and Homeland Security secretary to "ensure that males are not detained in women's prisons or housed in women's detention centers."

• Establish the Department of Government Efficiency under the Executive Office of the President until July 4, 2026. This is the entity led by Elon Musk, the world's richest man, and is charged with recommending cuts in federal programs and spending.

• Require each agency head to establish their own DOGE team of at least four people to work with Musk's operation.

• Freeze federal hiring, with exceptions – notably immigration and border enforcement posts and U.S. military jobs, plus a generic exception for to "maintain essential services." The directive also does not apply to top presidential political appointees. The action bars contracting with outside labor to circumvent the hiring freeze.

• Block new federal rules and regulations in all agencies where Trump's appointed agency chief is not yet on the job to approve new edicts. The White House Office of Budget and Management can override the ban in emergency situations.

• Require all federal workers to return full-time to in-person work.

• Direct reviews across the Executive Branch of "career senior executive service" officials and effectively make it easier to fire, demote or reassign those federal employees — generally the highest-ranking civil service employees whose jobs historically have been protected through administration changes. "Because SES officials wield significant government authority, they must serve at the pleasure of the president," Trump's memoranda states.

• Make it easier to fire federal workers by reinstituting an executive order from the first Trump administration, which was later repealed under Biden. The latest Trump policy adds provisions that state that federal employees and applicants "are not required to personally or politically support the current president" but must "faithfully implement administration policies," understanding that "failure to do so is grounds for dismissal."

• Require a "Federal Hiring Plan" within 120 days to set new standards for hiring federal workers. The order prioritizes "recruitment of individuals ... passionate about the ideals of our American republic" and preventing "the hiring of individuals based on their race, sex or religion," while also blocking those "who are unwilling to defend the Constitution or to faithfully serve in the Executive Branch."

• Formally nominate Cabinet and sub-Cabinet officers and name many acting Cabinet officers, agency chiefs and commission chairs as Trump nominees await Senate confirmation.

• Repeal Biden directives intended to make it easier to enroll in Medicaid services, secure insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act and lower prescription drug costs. The Trump action, however, does not actually repeal the Biden-era $35 monthly cap on insulin, Medicare's $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs or Medicare's ability to negotiate drug pricing. Those policies remain enforced by federal statutes passed by Congress.

• Repeal multiple Biden orders and directives on COVID-19.

• Withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization, direct the White House Office of Management and Budget to stop future transfers of U.S. money to WHO and order the secretary of state to end negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

• Order the secretary of state and OMB director to identify "credible and transparent United States and international partners" to replace the U.S. relationship with WHO.

Foreign policy, national security and 'America First'

• Cancel Biden-era sanctions on far-right Israeli groups and individuals accused of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Biden's order had frozen U.S. assets and barred Americans from dealing with Israelis covered by his order.

• Direct Secretary of State Marco Rubio to issue guidance to put all State Department "politics, programs, personnel and operations in line with an America First foreign policy, which puts America and its interests first."

• Re-designate Yemen's Houthis as a terrorist organization. Trump's administration designated the Houthis as global terrorists and a foreign terrorist organization in one of his last acts in office in 2021. But Biden reversed course early on, at the time citing the humanitarian threat that the sanctions posed to ordinary Yemenis.

• Define the membership and establish operating procedures for the National Security Council.

• Pause all U.S. foreign development aid pending reviews of "efficiencies and consistency" with administration aims, to be conducted within 90 days by relevant agency heads "under guidelines" from Rubio the White House Office of Management and Budget. Rubio can lift the freeze for any program.

• Immediately grant six-month security clearances to certain administration officials whose background checks are pending. The White House counsel determines which aides get the temporary clearance.

• Repeal Biden's executive order on artificial intelligence that aimed to set guardrails on the development of AI.

• Restore the name of Mount McKinley in Alaska. The change for North America's tallest peak recognizes William McKinley, the 25th U.S. president, whom Trump has praised for economic leadership and expanding U.S. territory through the Spanish-American War. President Barack Obama had in 2015 renamed the mountain Denali — what native tribes called it historically. Trump's order did not change the name of the surrounding Denali National Park and Reserve.

• Require Trump's personal approval of new architectural and design standards for federal buildings so the president can ensure federal structures "respect regional, traditional, and classical architectural heritage in order to uplift and beautify public spaces and ennoble the United States."

• Order that U.S. flags always be flown at full-staff on Inauguration Day. The immediate effect was to countermand Biden's traditional 30-day order lowering flags as a mourning tribute to former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29, 2024. Trump's order returned flags on federal installations to half-staff on Jan. 21, through the end of the Carter mourning period.

• Direct the attorney general to explore whether 37 federal prisoners who had death sentences commuted to life imprisonment by Biden can be charged and tried with capital crimes in state courts.

• Direct the attorney general to "take all necessary and lawful action" to supply states with adequate drugs to carry out lethal injection.

• Direct the attorney general to seek reversals of U.S. Supreme Court precedents that limit application of the death penalty in state and federal jurisdictions.

• In a symbolic gesture, direct the attorney general to "encourage state attorneys general and district attorneys" to pursue the death penalty in all possible cases.

• Commute the sentences and grant full pardons to hundreds of individuals convicted or still being prosecuted for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol as Congress convened to certify Biden's victory over Trump in the 2020 election.

• Order the attorney general and others to review all agencies' investigative and enforcement actions during Biden's tenure to identify what Trump describes as "weaponization of the federal government" against his supporters. The directive identifies the Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the intelligence community. It requires a report to the president on the findings, with recommended "remedial actions."

• Direct the attorney general to investigate U.S. government dealings with social media platforms during Biden's tenure and make "recommendations for appropriate remedial actions" in response to what Trump frames as censorship efforts.

• Revoke the security clearances of 50 people Trump accuses of aiding Biden's 2020 campaign via their collective public statement about a laptop that belonged to Biden's son, Hunter Biden. The list includes former top intelligence officials James Clapper, Michael Hayden and Leon Panetta, along with Trump's onetime National Security Adviser John Bolton.

• Direct the director of national intelligence and CIA director to submit a report within 90 days with recommendations for additional "disciplinary action" and how to "prevent the Intelligence Community or anyone who works for or within it from inappropriately influencing domestic elections."

Everything Trump did in the first executive orders of his presidency

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-allegations-defense-trump-194e39797595d87f621db641d0f35ff1">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;as the nation's defense secretary Friday in a dramatic late-night vote, swatting back questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-defense-trump-women-allegations-cd3bfa2dbc35afa37a7f98b72e576233">allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior</a>&nbsp;toward women.

Rarely has a Cabinet nominee faced such wide-ranging concerns about his experience and behavior as Hegseth, particularly for such a high-profile role atop the U.S. military. But the Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran who has vowed to bring a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon, rounding out President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;top national security Cabinet officials.

Vice President JD Vance was on hand to cast a tie-breaking vote, unusual in the Senate for Cabinet nominees, who typically win wider support. Hegseth himself was at the Capitol with his family.

Senate Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2024/john-thune-is-striving-to-be-the-next-republican-senate-leader-but-can-he-rise-in-trumps-gop/">John Thune</a>&nbsp;said Hegseth, as a veteran of the Army National Guard who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, “will bring a warrior's perspective" to the top military job.

“Gone will be the days of woke distractions,” Thune said, referring to the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives being slashed across the federal government. “The Pentagon's focus will be on war fighting.”

The Senate's ability to confirm Hegseth despite a grave series of allegations against him will provide a measure of Trump's political power and ability to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gaetz-rfk-nominations-senate-59a69fe1758f5fb106d574895c70eba5">get what he wants from the GOP-led Congress</a>, and of the potency of the culture wars to fuel his agenda at the White House.

Next week senators will be facing Trump's other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-confirmation-hearings-e12dcbc5d26d675414331d9a35cab6a6">outside Cabinet choices</a>&nbsp;including particularly Kash Patel, a Trump ally who has published an enemies list, as the FBI director; Tulsi Gabbard as director of the office of national intelligence; and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, the anti-vaccine advocate at Health and Human Services.

“Is Pete Hegseth truly the best we have to offer?” said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, urging his colleagues to think seriously about their vote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737751384250.png" alt="Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, his wife and then President-elect Trump at the Army -Navy Game last month-courtesy photi" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, his wife and then President-elect Trump at the Army -Navy Game last month-courtesy photi</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-allegations-defense-trump-194e39797595d87f621db641d0f35ff1">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;as the nation's defense secretary Friday in a dramatic late-night vote, swatting back questions about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-defense-trump-women-allegations-cd3bfa2dbc35afa37a7f98b72e576233">allegations of heavy drinking and aggressive behavior</a>&nbsp;toward women.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737771904109.png" alt="Kansas Senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran met with Hegseth January 10- photo courtesy Moran's office" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran met with Hegseth January 10- photo courtesy Moran's office</figcaption>
 </figure>Rarely has a Cabinet nominee faced such wide-ranging concerns about his experience and behavior as Hegseth, particularly for such a high-profile role atop the U.S. military. But the Republican-led Senate was determined to confirm Hegseth, a former Fox News host and combat veteran who has vowed to bring a “warrior culture” to the Pentagon, rounding out President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump's</a>&nbsp;top national security Cabinet officials.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737773600294.png" alt="Vice President Vance with the tie-breaking vote-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Vice President Vance with the tie-breaking vote-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Vice President JD Vance was on hand to cast a tie-breaking vote, unusual in the Senate for Cabinet nominees, who typically win wider support. Hegseth himself was at the Capitol with his family.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737772412121.png" alt="Kansas Junior U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (center) during the vote count-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Junior U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (center) during the vote count-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Senate Majority Leader&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2024/john-thune-is-striving-to-be-the-next-republican-senate-leader-but-can-he-rise-in-trumps-gop/">John Thune</a>&nbsp;said Hegseth, as a veteran of the Army National Guard who served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, “will bring a warrior's perspective" to the top military job.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Previously, the only Vice President to break a tie on a Cabinet nominee confirmation vote was Mike Pence in 2017 on Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of Education. <a href="https://t.co/nSYD0uiTiP">https://t.co/nSYD0uiTiP</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1882978941100871852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Gone will be the days of woke distractions,” Thune said, referring to the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives being slashed across the federal government. “The Pentagon's focus will be on war fighting.”The Senate's ability to confirm Hegseth despite a grave series of allegations against him will provide a measure of Trump's political power and ability to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gaetz-rfk-nominations-senate-59a69fe1758f5fb106d574895c70eba5">get what he wants from the GOP-led Congress</a>, and of the potency of the culture wars to fuel his agenda at the White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thank you for your confidence Mr. President. Thank you for the tie-breaker Mr. Vice President. Thank you Senators for 50 votes. This is for the troops. For the warriors. For our country. America First. Every day. We will never back down. 🇺🇸&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1883022600676188588?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Next week senators will be facing Trump's other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-confirmation-hearings-e12dcbc5d26d675414331d9a35cab6a6">outside Cabinet choices</a>&nbsp;including particularly Kash Patel, a Trump ally who has published an enemies list, as the FBI director; Tulsi Gabbard as director of the office of national intelligence; and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, the anti-vaccine advocate at Health and Human Services.“Is Pete Hegseth truly the best we have to offer?” said Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, urging his colleagues to think seriously about their vote.Hegseth himself was working the phones late Friday to shore up his support, his confirmation at stake.“He’s a good man," Trump said of Hegseth while departing the White House to visit disaster-hit North Carolina and Los Angeles. "I hope he makes it.”Trump leveled criticism of Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, who announced they would vote against Hegseth. And Tump raised fresh questions about Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., saying, “And of course Mitch is always a no vote, I guess. Is Mitch a no vote?”In the end all three voted against Hegseth, as tensions soared late Friday at the Capitol.McConnell, the former GOP leader in the Senate, had not declared his vote, but signaled skepticism in an earlier speech when he declared he would confirm nominees to senior national security roles “whose record and experience will make them immediate assets, not liabilities.” He voted against.It takes a simple majority to confirm Hegseth, and Republicans, with a 53-47 majority in the Senate, could only lose one more objection.One Republican, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, sent the Senate swirling as he raised questions and was provided information and answers, said a person familiar with the situation Thursday and granted anonymity to discuss it.But Tillis ultimately voted to confirm Hegseth who he said “has a unique perspective” and is passionate about modernizing the military. He said he spoke to Hegseth for “nearly two hour” about his concerns.Democrats, as the minority party, have helped confirm Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;and CIA Director&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cia-director-ratcliffe-trump-cabinet-national-intelligence-a73ceaef42086d46a728979189a9826b">John Ratcliffe</a>&nbsp;in bipartisan votes to Trump's national security team within days of his return to the White House.But Democrats gravely opposed to Hegseth have little power to stop him, and instead have resorted to dragging out the process.Hours before the vote, Democrat after Democrat took to the Senate floor to object.Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said during the debate there are few Trump nominees as “dangerously and woefully unqualified as Hegseth.”Hegseth faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-sexual-assault-allegations-trump-defense-secretary-677b2df5859a338feac4714c60ef369d">allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman</a>&nbsp;at a Republican conference in California, though he has denied the claims and said the encounter was consensual. He later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-sex-assault-payment-trump-6674cc8cfee654c374725948e01ff666">paid $50,000 to the woman</a>.More recently, Hegseth's former sister-in-law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pete-hegseth-affidavit-defense-secretary-pentagon-trump-e195ba72a3f47060f7a1b7a81981cba2">said in an affidavit</a>&nbsp;that he was abusive to his second wife to the point that she feared for her safety. Hegseth has denied the allegation, and in divorce proceedings, neither Hegseth nor the woman claimed to be a victim of domestic abuse.During a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/pete-hegseth-roger-wicker-greenland-virginia-military-and-defense-cc8aef7f27e44f55a3f4e6476fed3086">fiery confirmation</a>&nbsp;hearing, Hegseth dismissed allegations of wrongdoing one by one, and vowed to bring “warrior culture” to the top Pentagon post.Hegseth has promised not to drink on the job if confirmed.But Republican senators facing an intensive pressure campaign by Trump allies to support Hegseth have stood by his nomination, echoing his claims of a “smear” campaign against him.A Princeton and Harvard graduate, Hegseth represents a newer generation of veterans who came of age in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He went on to a career at Fox News as the host of a weekend show, and was unknown to many on Capitol Hill until Trump tapped him for the top Defense job.Hegseth's comments that women should have no role in military combat drew particular concern on Capitol Hill, including from lawmakers who themselves served. He has since tempered those views as he met with senators during the confirmation process.Murkowski said in a lengthy statement ahead of a test vote on Hegseth that his behaviors “starkly contrast” with what is expected of the military.“I remain concerned about the message that confirming Mr. Hegseth sends to women currently serving and those aspiring to join,” Murkowski wrote on social media.Collins said that after a lengthy discussion with Hegseth, “I am not convinced that his position on women serving in combat roles has changed.”But one prominent Republican, Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, herself a veteran and sexual assault survivor, came under harsh criticism for her skepticism toward Hegseth and eventually announced she would back him.Hegseth would lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.In exercising its advise and consent role over Trump’s nominees, the Senate is also trying to stave off his suggestion that the GOP leaders simply do away with the confirmation process altogether, and allow him to appoint his Cabinet choices when the Congress is on recess.Trump raised the idea of so-called “recess appointments” during a private White House meeting with Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, a step many senators are trying to avoid.___