Republicans force delay on Hagel confirmation Confirmation in doubt ... Chuck Hagel. WASHINGTON: Republicans demanding answers from US President Barack Obama's pick to head the Pentagon have forced Senate leaders to delay a vote, throwing Chuck Hagel's confirmation into doubt. Senators James Inhofe and Lindsey Graham have expressed strong opposition to rushing Mr Hagel's confirmation process, and after Mr Hagel was narrowly approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, the Republicans insisted they would try to block a vote in the full Senate. This is the first time in the history of our country that a presidential nominee for secretary of defence has been filibustered. What a shame," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on the floor of the chamber on Wednesday. To overcome the blocking tactic, Senator Reid scheduled a vote on Friday to end debate on the Hagel nomination, but such a procedure requires a 60-vote threshold rather than the typical simple majority. Democrats hold a 55-45 edge in the Senate. No Democrats are expected to vote against Mr Hagel, a Vietnam War veteran and Republican former senator himself, while just two Republicans have publicly stated their support. It remained an open question whether there were another three Republicans willing to cross party lines and allow the nomination to get to the floor. "I would hope we would have 60 votes," Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein said. I have not heard that there are not, let me put it that way. Senate Democrats have warned that now is not the time to waffle over a crucial cabinet member who directs the US military, and the White House has called for expeditious action to fill the vital post. Senator Inhofe sought to play down his effort to block a vote, insisting there was "nothing unusual" about it. I'd vote tonight if we could just get the information that's been requested by the Republican members of the Armed Services Committee. He and colleagues have taken issue with several comments and votes by Mr Hagel in recent years about Iran, nuclear weapons, Israel and the US troop surge in Iraq. They have demanded financial compensation data and transcripts from speeches Mr Hagel gave to foreign audiences, saying some records are missing.