During the hearing, Ernst pressed Trump's DOD choice on women in combat, sexual assault in the military and auditing the department. Ernst, a survivor of sexual assault herself, said, "A priority ...

Since President-elect Donald Trump nominated former Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as his secretary of Defense, all eyes have been on Iowa senator Joni Ernst. Hegseth has been accused of ...

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a key member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who has championed women serving in combat roles, announced Tuesday that she will vote for Pete Hegseth, President ...

The Republican senator is seen as a key vote on Trump's nominee. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, said Tuesday she is supporting Pete Hegseth’s nomination to serve as secretary of defense after ...

The Post has reached out to a department spokesperson for comment. Ernst, 54, who helms the Senate DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) Caucus, has been a staunch proponent of cracking down ...

But also in the spotlight: Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), whose support the Trump transition team views as crucial. Ernst, a former Army National Guard commander, endured a torrent of criticism from ...

Joni Ernst pressed Pete Hegseth about women’s ... an often-contentious hearing on his nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Defense Tuesday. Ernst has been seen as a key hurdle to Hegseth ...

Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, later offered her support ... Trump gave him was “to bring back the warrior culture to the Department of Defense” and said that “unlike the current administration ...

Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, who had been seen as a key Republican skeptic of Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the Defense Department, said she will support him after his performance at Tuesday's ...