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On Friday, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the nation’s next Secretary of Defense where he will oversee the largest military in the world. Hegseth’s confirmation process was intense as Democrats grilled the nominee over allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking, and overall lack of experience.
Despite these numerous scandals, Hegseth was narrowly confirmed with Vice President JD Vance providing the tie-breaking 51st vote to make him the next Secretary of Defense. With Hegseth confirmed, it seems more than likely that the rest of Trump’s nominees will follow suit, and the president’s allies in the Senate are trying their hardest to make sure that is the case.
Both U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., and Katie Britt, R-Ala., put out statements over the weekend celebrating the confirmations that have passed thus far and pushing their Senate colleagues to confirm remaining Trump nominees as well.
On Saturday, Sen. Britt released a statement in support of the newly-confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
“After four years of Biden-Harris open borders policies fueling an unprecedented humanitarian and national security crisis at our southern border, it’s clear the American people deserve a Secretary of Homeland Security who is actually committed to securing our homeland. Today, I voted to confirm Kristi Noem, whom I believe will end the abuse of our immigration laws that has devastated families and communities across our nation,” said Britt. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Tom Homan, she will help strengthen our border security and interior immigration enforcement – one of my top priorities in the 119th Congress. I’m excited to work with Secretary Noem to reverse years of failed immigration enforcement and return DHS’ focus to true homeland security.”
Britt also celebrated Hegseth’s confirmation, stating, “Voting to confirm Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense reaffirms my steadfast commitment to advancing President Trump’s doctrine of peace through strength. Secretary Hegseth will put our warfighters in the best position and return the Pentagon’s focus to our force’s lethality, providing a credible deterrent against our adversaries.”
“After meeting with him during the confirmation process, I know Secretary Hegseth appreciates the importance of Alabama to our national defense,” Britt continued. “Whether it is Fort Novosel, Redstone Arsenal, Anniston Army Depot, Maxwell Air Force Base, or Sumpter Smith Joint National Guard Base, I look forward to working with Secretary Hegseth to maximize the roles our great state’s installations, capabilities, and synergies play in supporting our men and women in uniform and protecting our nation long into the future.”
Tuberville also applauded both Noem and Hegseth’s confirmations, tweeting, “Look forward to working with Secretary Noem to secure the border and finish the wall” and “Honored to be at the White House this morning for the swearing in of my friend and our Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth. Pete will represent the war fighters, not the warmongers.”
Additionally, Tuberville called for the confirmation of Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, a former White House aide and CEO of the think tank America First Policy Institute. Rollins has faced criticism for her lack of experience in the agriculture industry, with Karen Perry Stillerman, Deputy Director of the Union of Concerned Scientists, calling Rollins “inexperienced, anti-science, and extremist.”
“I’ve known Brooke for 30 years. I met her while I was coaching at Texas A&M. She was the student body president in 1994. The students saw then what President Trump, what they see in her today, her strong leadership and her conviction of agriculture. It will be no different when she becomes the Secretary of Agriculture for the United States of America,” Tuberville said in a statement delivered on the Senate floor.
“Brooke is a conservative warrior and will be an excellent Ag Secretary. I look forward to working with her to secure our farmland from foreign entities and working with her on passing a Farm Bill that puts American producers first again,” Tuberville continued. “As Alabama’s voice on the Senate Ag Committee, I will continue fighting to secure our agriculture supply chain so our agriculture community can continue to put food on the table. And that starts with someone like Brooke Rollins as our Secretary of Agriculture. She is a terrific nominee, and I look forward to working with her on the Committee.”
Tuberville said that he expects Rollins to “move easily through the Committee vote” before the Senate at-large votes on her confirmation. “She’ll do great. She’s perfect for the job and I ask that the Senate take up both efforts quickly to defend our agriculture communities which feeds not only the American people but the entire world,” Tuberville concluded.
On Sunday, Sen. Britt also made a post to her X account pushing for the confirmation of remaining Trump nominees like Rollins.
“Let’s continue to get President Trump’s team confirmed so they can hit the ground running!” Britt posted. “Together, we’re focused on restoring prosperity, safety, and security for hardworking Americans.”
