参议院批准前参议员查克•哈格尔担任国防部长。

美国参议院于2月26日以58票对41票的表决结果确认前内布拉斯加州（Nebraska）联邦参议员查克•哈格尔（Chuck Hagel）为下一任国防部长。

根据美国宪法，总统提名的内阁人选须经参议院表示“意见和同意”。参议院通过举行委员会听证并在参议院进行投票表决来履行这一职责。

哈格尔在听证会上表示：“我充分认识到国防部长的重大责任。我已向总统保证，如果获得联邦参议院确认，我将始终尽我最大的努力。”

曾在美国陆军（U.S. Army）服役期间两度负伤的哈格尔，将成为首位担任国防部长的前应征当兵军人及越战（Vietnam War）退伍军人。

欧巴马总统于1月7日宣布他准备提名哈格尔。听证会于1月31日举行，但因参议院共和党人阻挠，投票表决被推迟。

The Senate confirms former Senator Chuck Hagel as the next U.S. secretary of defense.

By a vote of 58–41, the U.S. Senate on February 26 confirmed Chuck Hagel, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, as the next secretary of defense.

Under the U.S. Constitution, the Senate has a duty to “advise and consent” on the president’s Cabinet nominees, a duty it exercises through committee hearings and a vote on the Senate floor.

“I fully recognize the immense responsibilities of the secretary of defense,” Hagel said at his confirmation hearing. “I assured the president that if I am confirmed by the U.S. Senate, I will always do my best.”

Hagel, twice wounded while serving in the U.S. Army, will be the first former U.S. enlisted serviceman and first Vietnam War veteran to become secretary of defense.

President Obama announced his intent to nominate Hagel on January 7 and a confirmation hearing was held January 31, but a filibuster mounted by Senate Republicans delayed the vote.