VP-Elect Vance Facilitates Senate Republican Discussions on Hegseth Nomination

Vice President-elect JD Vance facilitated discussions between Senate Republicans and Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth on Jan. 15, 2025, ahead of confirmation hearings. Multiple Republican senators had expressed reservations about Hegseth's qualifications and personal conduct; Vance's role as a Senate liaison was an early demonstration of his value to the administration's slim Senate majority and his ability to bring skeptical Republicans toward confirmation.