Washington, D.C. — Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., is urging President Donald Trump to fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of “inept management” and creating a leadership vacuum across the military.
Tillis, a former member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who voted to confirm Hegseth last year, sharpened his criticism after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announced his resignation following reported clashes with Hegseth over personnel and modernization priorities.
“I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country,” Tillis wrote on X. He accused Hegseth of being “intimidated by competence” and focusing on culture-war battles rather than military readiness.
Tillis pointed to the departures or removals of several senior officers, including former Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. CQ Brown Jr., former Navy chief Adm. Lisa Franchetti, former Air Force chief Gen. David Allvin and Gen. Chris Donahue, who led U.S. Army forces in Europe.
He praised Driscoll and former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George for pushing modernization efforts, especially expanded use of drones and faster procurement.
Other Republicans have also expressed concern. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said he was disappointed by Driscoll’s departure and stressed the importance of adapting U.S. forces to drone warfare seen in Ukraine and Iran.
Tillis said Trump should find a defense secretary who “will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it.”
Sources
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