Tillis Urges Trump to Fire Hegseth Amid Pentagon Exodus

Retiring Sen. Thom Tillis publicly called on President Trump to replace War Secretary Pete Hegseth after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned following months of internal tension.

Outgoing Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., posted a fiery statement on X Wednesday urging President Trump to replace War Secretary Pete Hegseth, writing that he urges the President to "find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it." The call came after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll submitted his resignation, with Wednesday marking his final full day in the role. Tillis, who served eight years on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he had "never witnessed more inept management" of the men and women who serve the country. (Fox News; eciks.org)

A sitting Republican senator openly demanding the removal of a Trump Cabinet secretary is rare on its own, but the backlash highlighted an awkward reversal: Tillis voted to confirm Hegseth in January 2025, a vote that required Vice President JD Vance to break a 50-50 tie, according to The Independent as reported by The Nerd Stash. Commentators and North Carolina Republicans quickly pointed to that record, with Bulwark commentator Tim Miller writing "You did this brother!" and Hegseth's own father replying that Tillis was "irrelevant." The episode shows a retiring legislator free to criticize a secretary he helped install. (The Nerd Stash)

Fox News reports that a source familiar with Driscoll's resignation indicated the former Army secretary raised concerns about Army transformation and readiness and about Hegseth blocking those efforts by firing the generals responsible. Tillis also praised Driscoll and retired Gen. Randy George for beginning what he called a transformative period of innovation in how forces are arrayed and equipped. eciks.org reports that Tillis's rebuke came two days after Driscoll resigned on August 31 following months of tension with Hegseth, a departure multiple outlets linked to disagreements over the forced departures of senior military leaders. (Fox News; eciks.org)

The White House defended Hegseth, with spokeswoman Anna Kelly saying the President has "complete trust" in the secretary and pointing to Operations Midnight Hammer, Absolute Resolve, Southern Spear, and Epic Fury as proof of results, according to Fox News. eciks.org reports that GOP lawmakers including Sen. Mike Rounds and House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers are frustrated with leadership churn and demanding stability, while a former Republican staffer described Hegseth as a potential liability heading into the November midterms. The dispute lands as the administration seeks emergency defense funding for a costly conflict with Iran. (Fox News; eciks.org)

eciks.org reports that Senate inquiries are expected this fall when the administration seeks emergency defense funding, with questions about Pentagon transparency and extended carrier deployments likely on the agenda. Per Fox News, the administration has already begun scouting potential Army secretary candidates, meaning the personnel churn at the top of the Pentagon may continue regardless of whether Hegseth stays or goes. (Fox News; eciks.org)