WATCH: Sen. Ernst questions defense secretary nominee Hegseth at confirmation hearing

Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, questioned defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth about Pentagon auditing, women in the military and sexual assault allegations at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

“There's significant room for greater efficiency and cost cutting within the department and the DOD [Department of Defense] is the only federal agency that has never passed an audit,” Ernst said.

“What are those steps that you will take to ensuring the Pentagon has a clean audit by the year 2028?" she asked.

Hegseth said that a previous organization he had led, Concerned Veterans for America, worked within the budget provided by funders. Hegseth has been criticized for the way he managed the organization.

Hegseth is a military veteran and conservative media personality. President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary has faced allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking, and been criticized as a nominee for his controversial views on diversity and religion in the military.

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