WASHINGTON — US Vice President JD Vance cast a decisive vote on Friday to confirm Pete Hegseth as secretary of defense, breaking a 50-50 tie in the Senate.

The tie occurred after Republican Senators Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins joined Democrats in voting against Hegseth’s nomination.

"The yeas are 50 and the nays are 50. The Senate being equally divided, the vice president votes in the affirmative and the nomination is confirmed," Vance announced.

This marks only the second time in US history that a vice president has broken a tie on a Cabinet confirmation vote.

The first instance occurred in 2017, when then-Vice President Mike Pence cast the deciding vote to confirm Betsy DeVos as secretary of education.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host and military veteran, is considered one of Donald Trump’s more controversial Cabinet picks. His nomination faced scrutiny over allegations of excessive drinking, financial mismanagement, and a 2017 sexual assault accusation in California, which police investigated but did not result in charges. The Associated Press reported that Hegseth paid $50,000 to the accuser in a settlement.

Despite the controversy, President Donald Trump celebrated Hegseth’s confirmation, calling him a "great" choice for secretary of defense. "Congratulations to Pete Hegseth. He will make a great Secretary of Defense!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

When asked in California—where he was touring areas devastated by wildfires—about McConnell’s opposition to Hegseth, Trump stated, "I just know that we won. Winning is all that matters." — Agencies