Washington, DC — Republican senators are increasingly pushing back against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over his sweeping changes to Pentagon leadership, warning that repeated firings and forced departures could weaken military readiness and leave experienced officers sidelined.
The tensions have intensified since Hegseth announced plans to reduce the number of generals and admirals by 20%, part of a broader effort he says will streamline the military and eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy.
Several senior Republicans have complained that Congress was given little warning about the cuts. Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Roger Wicker and other GOP members have also questioned whether some personnel decisions are being driven by political or ideological considerations rather than performance.
Sen. Thom Tillis has gone further, repeatedly calling on President Donald Trump to replace Hegseth. Tillis has described the Pentagon’s management as “inept” and accused Hegseth of driving out capable military leaders while focusing heavily on culture-war issues.
The Pentagon maintains that its personnel decisions are merit-based and necessary to reshape the military for future threats.
Hegseth has already forced out or sidelined numerous senior officers, while the Army has experienced particularly significant turnover, including the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll after months of reported clashes with Hegseth.
Trump has continued to publicly support his defense secretary despite the growing criticism from within his own party.
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