In a news release posted on Facebook, Joint Task Force North said Hegseth will visit Fort Bliss on Monday, Feb. 3 and the local area "to see the efforts of military men and women are undertaking in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection activities to secure the border." Media advisory from the Joint Task Force North Public Affairs Office.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's first trip since taking office will be to the United States' border with Mexico on Monday, in the latest sign that fortifying the border will be a priority for the Pentagon under President Donald Trump.

Pete Hegseth's visit comes as encounters with immigrants at the southern border have decreased by 93%, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

On Jan. 21, before the Senate took Hegseth's confirmation to a vote, his former sister-in-law came forward with new allegations against him, claiming in an affidavit submitted to the Senate that his second wife, Samantha, feared for her safety and made escape plans, allegedly going so far as to develop a code word that she could use to get help.

Pete Hegseth has vowed to bring his “warrior” ethos to the Pentagon. Democrats had assailed him as unfit for the job, and his confirmation came down to Vice President JD Vance serving as tiebreaker.

Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) cited rising global threats as a reason for voting against confirming Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) joined all Democrats in opposition.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will visit Fort Bliss and the southern border on Monday, Feb. 3, Fort Bliss announced. Hegseth will visit Joint Task Force North, which is headquartered at Fort Bliss.