Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) announced following Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing that she would support him as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense.
“After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong Secretary of Defense,” Ernst said in a statement after the hearing. “Our next commander in chief selected Pete Hegseth to serve in this role, and after our conversations, hearing from Iowans, and doing my job as a United States Senator, I will support President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense.”
“As I serve on the Armed Services Committee, I will work with Pete to create the most lethal fighting force and hold him to his commitments of auditing the Pentagon, ensuring opportunity for women in combat while maintaining high standards, and selecting a senior official to address and prevent sexual assault in the ranks.”
The statement comes as Ernst reportedly expressed doubts about Hegseth, specifically his comments suggesting women should not serve in combat roles.
When asked during the confirmation hearing if Hegseth would support women in combat roles, he said, “Women will have access to ground combat roles, given the standards remain high.”
After meeting with Hegseth in December, Ernst said, “I appreciate Pete Hegseth’s responsiveness and respect for the process. Following our encouraging conversations, Pete committed to completing a full audit of the Pentagon and selecting a senior official who will uphold the roles and value of our servicemen and women — based on quality and standards, not quotas — and who will prioritize and strengthen my work to prevent sexual assault within the ranks.”
