A motion to proceed asks the Senate to begin considering a matter on the floor. Agreeing to it opens formal consideration but does not decide the nomination itself.

The Senate later agreed to limit debate on the nomination on January 23 and confirmed Hegseth on January 24, with the Vice President breaking a 50–50 tie.

• On the Nomination PN11-7
  Jan 24, 2025Nomination Confirmed (50-50, Vice President of the United States, voted Yea)
• On the Cloture Motion PN11-7
  Jan 23, 2025Cloture Motion Agreed to (51-49)

The vote allowed the Senate to begin considering a nominee to lead the Department of Defense, but it did not itself appoint him or determine his policies.

• Peter Hegseth
  The Senate began consideration of his nomination; confirmation was decided in a later vote.
• Department of Defense
  The nomination concerned who would lead the department, but this vote did not install a secretary.

Republicans voted overwhelmingly in favor, while Democrats mostly voted against; both independents voted no. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the one Democrat who voted yes, against the Democratic majority position.

• D
  John FettermanPennsylvania

  Voted YES against party majority— The only Democratic member who voted yes while most Democrats voted no.

Motion to proceed

Senate motion to begin formal floor consideration of a bill. Itself filibusterable, so often the first hurdle a bill faces — and often where bills die without ever being debated on their merits.

Cloture

Senate procedure that ends debate on a measure. Requires 60 votes to invoke on most legislation, simple majority on nominations after the 2013/2017 nuclear options. Voting yes on cloture is not the same as voting yes on the underlying bill — many senators do one but not the other.