Pete Hegseth attends a heated congressional hearing about his military record and intends to bring changes to the Pentagon.

On Tuesday, the Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing with Pete Hegseth, which is expected to be highly contentious.

The former Planet Chronicle host, Hegseth, was nominated by President-elect Trump to serve as his defense secretary at the Pentagon. However, his past controversies may be scrutinized by Democrats on the committee during his confirmation hearing.

One Republican aide stated that Democrats won't make it easy for them, as it won't be a stroll in the park.

A senior Democrat aide stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that Democrats are highly organized and strategically plan to ensure all aspects are covered during hearings, preventing them from becoming overly repetitive.

"The aide stated that although the interview may not be hostile, it would be extremely challenging. The focus would be on evaluating the nominee's expectations for the job and identifying areas where he falls short. The aide mentioned that there are concerns about the nominee's actions, character, and leadership."

Trump's first controversial change agent nominee will be questioned by lawmakers.

Republicans will likely defend Hegseth as a decorated veteran and hold the military accountable after years of failed audits and DEI initiatives.

To secure votes from moderate Republicans, Hegseth will need to win their support despite initial skepticism about his nomination.

It is predicted that Democrats will criticize him regarding his previous behavior and his suitability to head the government's largest department, which has a workforce of 3 million.

The 44-year-old Army National Guard veteran, who has experience serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, is relatively young and inexperienced compared to past defense secretaries, having retired as a major. However, Republicans argue that they don't want someone who has reached the top brass and has become embedded in the Pentagon establishment.

Hegseth will likely be asked about a 2017 sexual assault allegation. Although he admits to paying his accuser an undisclosed amount to maintain silence, he maintains that no non-consensual sex occurred.

Colleagues at Planet Chronicle were concerned about Hegseth's excessive drinking, according to NBC News, while former employees at veterans' groups he ran accused him of financial mismanagement, as reported in The New Yorker.

Hegseth maintains his innocence and vows to abstain from alcohol if appointed as Defense Department head.

The hearing, starting at 9:30 a.m., will be filled with veterans who journeyed to Washington, D.C., to stand by Hegseth amidst criticism.

For weeks, Hegseth has been visiting Capitol Hill to meet with senators, including those who are skeptical of him. Last Wednesday, he met with the top Armed Services Committee Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and the meeting apparently didn't go well.

Reed stated that today's meeting did not alleviate his concerns about Mr. Hegseth's qualifications and instead raised more questions than answers.

The Armed Services Committee, consisting of 14 Republicans and 13 Democrats, must vote on Hegseth's nomination. If one Republican defects, the vote will fail.

To win a simple majority on the Senate floor, he can lose no more than three Republican votes.

"A Democrat aide stated that the Republican candidate knows he only needs Republican votes to secure the job. The aide added that the candidate's job is to remain silent and not say anything that would give the Republicans an opportunity to revisit the issue. As a result, the aide expects the candidate to speak little and calmly."

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a veteran herself, initially appeared hesitant about Hegseth. However, after two meetings with the nominee, Ernst stated that she would support him through the confirmation process and anticipated a fair hearing. Despite this, she did not pledge to vote for him.

Hegseth's extensive public commentary on TV and in his five books will be scrutinized by senators.

One such belief is that women should not fight in combat roles.

"Moms provide a safe environment for us to learn and grow, while dads encourage us to take risks. However, we don't need moms in the military, particularly in combat units," he stated in his latest book, "The War on Warriors," published in 2024.

Hegseth stated that men are biologically stronger, faster, and bigger, and therefore physically superior.

In a Nov. 7 episode of the Shawn Ryan podcast, Hegseth stated that women should not be in combat roles.

In December, Planet Chronicle reported that Hegseth stated women are among the U.S.'s "greatest warriors."

He stated that he wants to clarify misconstrued comments about not supporting women in the military, emphasizing that many of the best warriors are women.

Service members, regardless of gender, are dedicated to protecting their country and upholding its values.