Senator Tillis Urges Trump to Replace Hegseth Over Pentagon Turnover

Sen. Thom Tillis on Wednesday became the most prominent Republican to publicly demand that President Donald Trump remove Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, citing what he described as inept management that has driven out senior military leaders during an ongoing war with Iran.

Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, posted on X that he had never seen such mismanagement of the armed forces. He accused Hegseth of being intimidated by competence and retreating into culture wars instead of focusing on national defense and the well-being of service members. The senator urged Trump to appoint a new Pentagon leader who would retain talent rather than diminish it.

The call follows the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who stepped down after months of reported clashes with Hegseth. Nearly two dozen generals, admirals and senior civilian officials have left the department since Hegseth took office, many after disputes over his direction. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard major with limited senior leadership experience, has overseen a broad overhaul that critics say has politicized a traditionally nonpartisan role.

Former Trump communications director Mike Dubke told CNN that the White House is unlikely to act until the situation deteriorates further. He predicted that only a major military fiasco would prompt Trump to conclude that Hegseth is not the right leader. Dubke noted positive recruitment numbers, including the military meeting its fiscal year goals and enlistments reaching a 15-year high, but warned that these figures mask deeper institutional damage from the loss of experienced personnel.

The criticism arrives as the United States remains engaged in a protracted conflict with Iran that has entered its seventh month. U.S. forces have conducted strikes and faced retaliatory attacks, with the USS Abraham Lincoln recently completing nearly 300 continuous days at sea. The strain on operational readiness has raised questions about whether the Pentagon can sustain effective leadership amid the turnover.

Tillis's remarks reflect growing unease within Republican ranks over Hegseth's approach, which has emphasized cultural issues at the expense of traditional military priorities, according to multiple accounts. The senator's statement marks the strongest public rebuke yet from a GOP lawmaker, signaling that concerns about talent erosion and management failures are no longer confined to Democratic critics.

Dubke emphasized that restoring operational capacity could take considerable time once experienced officers depart. He described the current path as one that risks long-term harm to the force even if recruitment metrics appear strong on the surface. The combination of high-level exits and an active conflict has intensified scrutiny of whether Hegseth's leadership can withstand further tests without additional departures or setbacks.