President-elect Donald Trump selected Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and veteran, as Secretary of Defense. A vocal Trump supporter, Hegseth endorsed the “America First” agenda and defended veterans accused of war crimes. Trump praised Hegseth’s dedication to veterans and his vision for a strong military, describing him as “tough” and “smart.”

Hegseth, a former Army officer who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantánamo Bay, has degrees from Princeton and Harvard. Known for his defense of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, Hegseth criticized military justice processes and influenced Trump’s decisions regarding Gallagher’s case. Hegseth’s book, The War on Warriors, condemns what he sees as leftist betrayal of U.S. soldiers. However, his lack of experience beyond military service could raise confirmation challenges, with concerns over his stance on military justice and limited senior-level defense experience.

Trump also nominated John Ratcliffe for CIA Director, a former Texas congressman and previous Director of National Intelligence (DNI) during Trump’s first term. Trump described Ratcliffe as a “warrior for Truth and Honesty.”

Known for his support of Trump, Ratcliffe aided investigations against Hunter Biden and criticized probes into Russian interference in the 2016 election. While loyal to Trump, Ratcliffe occasionally resisted the president’s demands, potentially aiding his confirmation.

Ratcliffe’s CIA role could make him the administration’s key intelligence figure, tasked with addressing security threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. He faced previous confirmation challenges for DNI due to his partisanship but was later approved after concerns eased. Ratcliffe has expressed concerns about differing intelligence standards regarding Russian and Chinese influence, prompting debates on threat assessment standards.