Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon and the US Army have launched an investigation into the catastrophic midair collision between a commercial jet and a military helicopter near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Wednesday night.

The secretary of defense has been accused of alcohol abuse and various forms of misconduct — allegations he has denied.

Three Republicans voted with every Democrat against Trump’s controversial pick to lead the Pentagon, forcing Vance to step in and put Hegseth over the top.

Pete Hegseth was sworn in as the 29th U.S. secretary of defense after Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote in a narrow Senate confirmation.

Newly minted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stripped the personal security detail and security clearance of former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Army Gen. Mark Milley on Tuesday.

A Princeton and Harvard-educated former combat veteran, Hegseth went on to make a career at Fox News, where he hosted a weekend show. Trump tapped him as the defense secretary to lead an organization with nearly 2.1 million service members, about 780,000 civilians and a budget of $850 billion.

The Department of Defense Office of Inspector General is reviewing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s order to look into retired Gen. Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and determine whether he should be demoted.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is removing the security detail for former top US military officer Mark Milley -- a foe of President Donald Trump -- and suspending his security clearance,