Here are some takeaways from Hegseth’s confirmation hearing: Hegseth told senators that Trump’s primary charge to him was “to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense” and that “he wants a Pentagon laser focused on warfighting, lethality, meritocracy, standards, and readiness. That’s it. That is my job.”

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."

Pete Hegseth vowed to foster a "warrior culture" at the Pentagon and be a "change agent." He did not address the allegations of sexual assault and excessive drinking, focusing instead on his combat experience.

In “The War on Warriors,” published last year, the nominee to head the Pentagon lashes out at “social justice saboteurs” and other fellow Americans.

Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary is heading into a potentially explosive Senate confirmation hearing.

Last week, writing about Pete Hegseth’s hearing to be confirmed as secretary of defense, New York Times columnist David Brooks condemned the Senate committee’s Democrats for obsessing over the nominee’s “moral qualifications”—the allegations of alcohol abuse and sexual harassment—rather than his views on national security.

Amid Republican claims of “anonymous smears,” a named person — and a Hegseth, at that — accuses the defense secretary nominee of abusive behavior.