CNN’s Manu Raju says former Republican senate leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) voted “no” against Pete Hegseth’s confirmation for Defense Secretary indicating McConnell may be a bit of a wild card in the Republican Senate caucus.

Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law gave an affidavit to the Senate Armed Services Committee accusing him of being “abusive” toward his second ex-wife, according to a copy of the affidavit obtained by CNN.

Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that he paid $50,000 to a woman who alleged he sexually assaulted her as part of a non-disclosure agreement,

Pete Hegseth could hardly be more suited to be Donald Trump’s secretary of Defense — even though he’d surely be deemed unqualified by any conventional president.

(CNN) — Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee to ... CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, Haley Britzky Michael Conte, Lauren Fox, Kaanita Iyer, Manu Raju and Haley Talbot contributed to this report.

The Iowa senator supports Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary, despite allegations of assault and drinking — but she doesn’t want to talk about it.

Pete Hegseth’s ex-wife recently gave a new statement to the FBI about the defense nominee’s alcohol use, according to two sources familiar with the matter, an issue that has become a source of controversy during his confirmation process.

GOP senator Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, a known “watchdog” for IGs, said Congress wasn’t given the 30 days’ notice from the White House required by federal law.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) broke ranks with Republicans and opposed President Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth during a Senate procedural vote that narrowly advanced the nomination to a confirmation vote.

The White House budget office has ordered a pause on all federal grants and loans. The freeze could impact trillions in government spending and halt public programs affecting millions of Americans. Follow for live updates.

The memo specifies that the pause will not affect Social Security or Medicare benefits, nor does it include “assistance provided directly to individuals.”