Hegseth is scheduled to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee on January 14 for his confirmation hearing.
Retired Navy Commander Kirk Lippold, who says one of the most important tasks of the new Republican controlled Senate will be confirming President Trump's cabinet nominees, is concerned about Hegseth's lack of Pentagon experience.
"Pete is an absolutely solid citizen and an American patriot," Lippold notes. "That said, he does lack the larger institutional understanding of how the Pentagon works and how the bureaucracy can undermine him. He's never had that long-term D.C. experience that I think is necessary."
He says Hegseth will need someone he can trust who does have that experience.
"While I think Pete is going to step up and do a great job, he is going to need a strong deputy that understands how the Pentagon works," the analyst submits. "That's the person that is going to keep everyone briefing Pete as the secretary honest."
Amid the allegations and controversial past policy stances, some Republican senators have reportedly refused to publicly state their position on Hegseth, who can only afford to lose three Republican senators and still be confirmed, assuming all Democrats vote against him.
Lippold does not trust the bureaucracy to look out for Hegseth's best interests.
