Pete Hegseth’s motorcade stirred a cloud of dust around dozens of troops and border agents waiting in the desert to greet the new defense secretary. It was his first visit to the U.S-Mexico border and the 30-foot steel border fence loomed tall behind him as he shook hands.

Fort Bliss officials confirmed that U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was visiting the Borderland on Monday. His visit includes stops along the border in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, where presumably reserve and active-duty troops would be deployed to secure the U.

The 51-50 decision came after three Republicans voted against Hegseth. Vice President JD Vance had to cast the tiebreaking vote.