Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who voted to confirm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year, has voiced support for impeaching Hegseth, citing a "management problem." Tillis' criticism follows Representative Thomas Massie's (R-Ky.) introduction of articles of impeachment against Hegseth, accusing him of "high crimes and misdemeanors."
"I think I’m pretty well staked out on my assessment of Mr. Hegseth. This is not personal," Tillis told reporters on Thursday. "I mean, people need to realize I worked as a management consultant. I went into companies and identified areas where they needed to improve. We’ve got a management problem here."
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had previously delayed a vote on Massie's impeachment articles until after the midterm elections, sending the House into an early recess. Johnson described the impeachment efforts as a "publicity stunt" by Massie seeking attention, stating it would "immediately be tabled."
Tillis had been hesitant to confirm Hegseth the previous year but ultimately did so. Since Hegseth's confirmation, Tillis has publicly criticized the defense secretary. Earlier in the month, Tillis informed his followers on X that he had "never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country." He further stated, "He is intimidated by competence and retreats to 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 urged the President to "find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it."
When asked on Thursday if he would encourage Republicans to vote in favor of Massie's impeachment articles, Tillis replied, "He needs to go, whether it’s impeachment or the most expedient route — just the president to replace him — would be great."