Pete Hegseth is facing a quiet but widening revolt among Republicans in Washington, with multiple GOP senators in the US Capitol telling colleagues this week that they no longer trust his leadership of the Pentagon at a time of war and warning of what one described as a 'hollowing out' of senior military ranks.
The news came after a turbulent few weeks inside the Defence Department, where Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has overseen the departure or dismissal of a string of top officers, includingArmy Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in early AprilandNavy Secretary John Phelan last week. Several of those moves, according to Republicans familiar with internal discussions, were not signalled in advance to key lawmakers who had previously backed Hegseth's appointment.
For context, Hegseth, a former infantry officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard and a high‑profile media figure, was confirmed as defence secretary last year with support from most Senate Republicans. Even then, some in the party raised questions about his lack of experience running a vast bureaucracy. Those doubts have sharpened as senior staff turnover has accelerated and reports have emerged of internal feuds with long‑respected officers and civilian leaders.
Republican senators who spoke toThe Hillon condition of anonymity said bluntly that Pete Hegseth would not be confirmed if his nomination came before them today. They pointed to what they see as persistent turmoil in senior ranks, as well as clashes with figures who enjoy deep reservoirs of goodwill on Capitol Hill.
One unnamed Republican senator said anxiety had grown over Hegseth's confrontations with senior commanders and civilian leaders with longstanding ties to Congress. The senator said colleagues were alarmed by what they view as the 'hollowing out of incredible leadership at the Pentagon', adding that matters 'came to a tipping point when Gen. George was dismissed'.
Republican defence hawks have been especially criticalof the reported pressure on Gen. Randy George to resign and the abrupt firing of Navy Secretary John Phelan. Both men were widely seen as steady hands at a time when US forces are engaged in a military conflict in Iran.
Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, was unusually blunt. She said she had 'the greatest admiration and respect for Gen. Randy George,' calling him 'one of the finest officers the United States Army has ever produced,' and concluded that it was 'a mistake for Secretary Hegseth to dismiss him.' Ernst added that she did not know the reason for George's removal.
Other Republicans questioned the way the decision was taken. Senators with oversight of the department toldThe Hillthat George was pushed out while two senior officials who might have challenged the move,Army Secretary Dan Driscolland Under Secretary of the Army Michael Obadal, were away from Washington. Driscoll later told the House Appropriations Defence Subcommittee that George's ouster was 'a real loss to us.'
Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, said he was caught by 'surprise' when he learned that Phelan had been fired. Phelan, Rounds noted, had been in the middle of arranging meetings with Republican lawmakers to discuss the annual defence policy bill when his job was suddenly terminated.
Behind the scenes, Republicans say those high‑profile departures sit on top of an already long list. Pete Hegseth has also removed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Defence Intelligence Agency director Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife. Some GOP senators now worry that other highly regarded generals could be nudged into retirement later in the year.
Source: International Business Times UK
