Michigan's U.S. senators voted in committee against Trump's picks to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, and White House budget office, Russell Vought.

Pete Hegseth and other appointees of President-elect Donald Trump headed to the Senate this week for hearings. In particular Hegseth – tapped by Trump to lead the Department of Defense – faced scrutiny.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut cast doubt Tuesday on nominee Pete Hegseth’s ability to run the Department of Defense, pointing to claims of financial mismanagement when President-elect Donald Trump’s pick ran a pair of veterans’ groups.

Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick to run the Pentagon, saw little resistance from Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

What effect do you think that will have on the military and the country? Gene: David, you know how impenetrable Pentagon culture is. Changing it is like, well, turning around an aircraft carrier. To the extent that the military is committed to diversity and inclusion,

Conservative organizations are targeting Republican senators, saying that they will pay a price if they do not back the president-elect’s choice for defense secretary.

Hegseth is set to begin confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill. In his opening statement obtained by NBC News, he leans into his outside perspective. “It’s time to give someone with dust on his boots the helm,” he is expected to say. NBC’s Ryan Nobles reports for "TODAY."

President Trump’s most controversial cabinet pick is one step closer to taking office. The nomination of Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense was voted out of the Senate Armed Services Committee on party lines,

Hegseth, 44, is a combat veteran and former Fox News host. The committee voted along party lines to advance his nomination to the full Senate.

The Senate battle to confirm President-elect Trump’s Cabinet picks will begin in earnest on Tuesday, as his controversial pick to lead the Pentagon, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth, meets the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Hegseth replied he did five sets of 47 pushups this morning. The pair moved on to other questions, but a reminder: Trump will be America's 47th president when he takes office next week.

Pete Hegseth, the controversial former Fox News host, has been accused of sexual assault and faces a grueling confirmation hearing on the path to becoming the next secretary of defense.