Republican Senator Thom Tillis has sharply criticized Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, calling his management "inept" amid leadership turmoil at the Department of Defense. The criticism followed the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who reportedly clashed with Hegseth over the latter's tenure and management style.
Tillis, in a lengthy social media post, urged President Trump to replace Hegseth, asserting that the Pentagon chief lacks the "same priorities and forward-thinking" as Driscoll and is causing the departure of "talented leaders." This creates "a void at the top of our military ranks," Tillis stated.
The senator accused Hegseth of "ginning up culture wars instead of soberly attending to the vital work of our national defense and the health and well-being of our fighting force." Tillis added that he has "never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country" and suggested Hegseth is "intimidated by competence."
Hegseth previously pledged in 2024 that "there won't be a drop of alcohol on my lips" during his service as Secretary of War under President Trump, a statement made amid media reports concerning his alcohol consumption.
Tillis, who is retiring from the Senate in January, was among the 50 votes to confirm Hegseth, a vote ultimately decided by Vice President JD Vance.
Driscoll's last full day as Army secretary was Wednesday. His public statement offered no explicit reason for his departure after 18 months as the service's civilian leader. However, tensions between Driscoll and Hegseth had been widely reported, with some of Driscoll's allies reportedly ousted this year by Hegseth. Sources indicated that Driscoll spoke with President Trump about the state of the military before submitting his resignation. The Washington Post reported that Trump had encouraged Driscoll to remain in his position at least through the midterm elections. According to The Atlantic, Driscoll met with Trump last week and expressed concerns about Hegseth's management of the Army, with sources telling the magazine that Trump was surprised by the number of military leaders and generals who had been fired, forced out, or denied promotions by Hegseth.
Trump was reportedly concerned by Driscoll's description of significant cuts to senior Army leadership and the force's perceived inability to complete necessary transformations. At the conclusion of the meeting, Driscoll informed the President of his intention to resign. A White House spokesperson disputed the characterization of the meeting.
Driscoll is known to have a good relationship with Vice President JD Vance and maintains connections with members of both parties in Congress. The Post reported he may be involved in a potential Vance presidential campaign in 2028.
Driscoll's exit occurs as the U.S. military has resumed airstrikes against Iran following a period of reduced hostilities amid a protracted conflict. The military now faces a leadership vacuum, with top civilian and uniformed positions unconfirmed by the Senate.
Hegseth reportedly ousted the Army's top uniformed leader, General Randy George, an ally of Driscoll, in April. He has also dismissed more than a dozen senior officers since taking office last year, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General CQ Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General James Slife, and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse.
General Christopher LaNeve has assumed the role of acting chief of staff for the Army. He recently halted a drone modernization program that Driscoll had supported. A bipartisan group of lawmakers has expressed significant concerns about the elimination of this specialized drone unit and requested a briefing from the Army regarding the decision.
As Army secretary, Driscoll was instrumental in efforts to streamline processes for military contractors to expedite the development of drone and counter-drone technologies to adapt to evolving modern warfare. He was also previously assigned the role of key negotiator in attempts to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly acknowledged Driscoll's contributions to these negotiations and stated he provided "outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality."
While some Republicans and Democrats have lamented Driscoll's resignation, some have used the occasion to criticize Hegseth's leadership. Driscoll's own statement on his departure expressed gratitude for his time as Army secretary under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, praising the soldiers, their families, and the civilian workforce for contributing to modernization efforts.
Sean Parnell, a senior advisor and spokesman for Hegseth, is reportedly under consideration to succeed Driscoll. Parnell, a decorated former Army Ranger, has been described as having strong support within the administration and a focus on enabling cultural change and accountability at the Pentagon. An administration official stated Parnell is dedicated to his current role.
Another potential candidate mentioned is Congressman Brian Mast, a Florida Republican and Army veteran. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Pentagon and the White House for comment on these developments. The reports of potential successors emerged as President Trump nominated Hung Cao to lead the Navy as Secretary of the Navy.