Iowa’s Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said Tuesday she will vote to confirm Pete Hegseth to lead the U.S. Department of Defense, ending weeks of speculation about whether she would stand in opposition to President-elect Donald Trump.
“After four years of weakness in the White House, Americans deserve a strong Secretary of Defense,” Ernst said in a statement. “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.”
Ernst, who was the first female combat veteran elected to serve in the U.S. Senate, was among the members of the Senate Armed Services Committee who questioned Hegseth during his confirmation hearing Tuesday morning.
She had previously expressed hesitations about Hegseth, who said on a podcast in November that, “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles.”
But during the hearing, Ernst emphasized common ground with Hegseth as the pair agreed that women seeking to serve in combat roles should meet the same high standards as men.
More:Pete Hegseth hearing: Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst seeks assurances on women serving in combat
“For the young women that are out there now and can meet those standards — and again, I’ll emphasize they should be very, very high standards,” Ernst told Hegseth during the hearing. “They must physically be able to achieve those standards so that they can complete their mission. But I want to know, again, let’s make it very clear for everyone here today: As secretary of defense, will you support women continuing to have the opportunity to serve in combat roles?”
Hegseth, who in his opening comments to the panel, emphasized the need for “equal” but not “equitable” standards for those serving in uniform, agreed that women should have the opportunity to serve.
“My answer is yes, exactly the way that you caveated it,” he told Ernst, who watched him intently with pursed lips as he spoke. “Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles … given the standards remain high.”
Ernst also secured public commitments from Hegseth that he would ensure the Pentagon passes an audit by 2028 and that he would appoint a senior-level official dedicated to sexual assault prevention and response within the military.
In her statement Tuesday evening, Ernst said she plans to work with Hegseth to ensure those commitments come to fruition.
“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,” she said.
Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.
