Thom Tillis calls for Pete Hegseth to be fired as defense secretary

Republican Senator Thom Tillis has called on President Donald Trump to fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, citing inept management and a leadership void. The demand follows the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who stepped down amid ongoing tensions with Hegseth. Other congressional Republicans, including Representatives Don Bacon and Mike Rogers, have echoed concerns over leadership churn and instability at the Pentagon, where approximately 20 senior officials have departed under Hegseth's tenure.

Tillis call for Hegseth firing

• ▪Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina called for President Donald Trump to fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on September 2, 2026, citing what Tillis described as inept management
• ▪Senator Thom Tillis accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of being intimidated by competence and retreating to culture wars instead of attending to national defense and the well-being of the military

Army Secretary Driscoll resignation

• ▪Dan Driscoll personally informed President Donald Trump of his concerns regarding a weakened military caused by high-level military purges pushed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
• ▪Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned from his role on August 31, 2026, amid reported months-long tensions between Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

Pentagon leadership departures

• ▪Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requested that Army Chief of Staff General Randy George retire immediately in the spring of 2026
• ▪Approximately 20 military and civilian leaders have been ousted or have stepped down since Pete Hegseth was confirmed as Defense Secretary

Republican criticism of Hegseth

• ▪Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska publicly supported Senator Thom Tillis's sentiments, stating on CNN that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not been a very good leader
• ▪Republican Representative Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, expressed frustration over Pentagon leadership instability, stating on September 1, 2026, that he is tired of the churn
• ▪Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota expressed disappointment regarding the departure of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll

Military talent retention concerns

• ▪Senator Thom Tillis stated that a forward-thinking Defense Secretary would fight to retain talented military leaders like Dan Driscoll and the numerous flag officers forced into retirement
• ▪Senator Thom Tillis warned that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership decisions are creating a leadership void at the top of the United States military ranks

4 sources