Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth's announcement followed a heated exchange with Pete Hegseth during his confirmation hearing earlier this week.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, was in full combat mode as she went hard after Hegseth and his qualifications to lead the nation's military. The decorated, disabled combat veteran's questioning was perhaps the moment of this hearing.

During Tuesday's confirmation hearing, Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois told defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth that she doesn't believe he is qualified for the job. Sen. Duckworth is a former Army helicopter pilot who lost her legs in a crash while serving in Iraq and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, attempted to convince senators on Tuesday, Jan. 14, that he can be trusted to run the Pentagon despite his controversial past.

"If Samantha Hegseth, Pete Hegseth's second (and now ex-)wife ... expected to be the Cabinet nominee who faces the harshest confirmation battle. Democratic Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, to The New York Times: "I need to see [Hegseth's] FBI background ...

Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth told Pete Hegseth he was "wholly unqualified" to be confirmed as Defense secretary.

Pete Hegseth failed to prove that he’s up for the job; Republican senators failed to do their jobs; and Trump failed to choose a qualified Pentagon nominee.

An Illinois legislator called U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth’s behavior during the Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday “embarrassing.”

Senators of both parties hammered Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Defense nominee, over his past comments about women serving in the military.

Donald Trump’s cabinet picks are beginning their nomination process this week, starting with Trump’s choice for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth

In a heated Senate confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, Sen. Tammy Duckworth grilled the proposed defense secretary over the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, asking him if he could name

During his confirmation hearing, Trump’s Defense Secretary nominee couldn’t name a single member of the Southeast Asian bloc.