GOP Senator Urges Trump to Fire Hegseth Over Management

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) called on President Trump to fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, saying Hegseth is creating a leadership void at the top of the military.

• Roughly 20 generals, admirals, and civilian defense leaders have left or been fired under Hegseth.
• Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned this week, prompting Tillis's statement.
• Tillis served 8 years on the Senate Armed Services Committee, including as subcommittee chair.
• No active-duty four-star women currently serve; a CBS News review found Black and female officers were disproportionately removed from promotion lists.

Why it matters: Tillis argued the departures of Driscoll and other senior leaders leave the military without experienced leadership at a time of active conflict.

• Driscoll resigned over concerns about Army transformation and readiness, which Hegseth blocked by removing responsible generals, according to Fox News.

How 12 sources split on this story

Where they split: Both outlets report the same facts, but frame the significance differently: Raw Story emphasizes demographic patterns in dismissals, while Washington Examiner focuses on institutional readiness concerns.

What’s next: Tillis is not seeking reelection and leaves office at term's end, limiting his leverage.

• The Pentagon had not responded to requests for comment as of publication.
• Will any other sitting Republican senators join Tillis in calling for Hegseth's removal?
• How will the loss of Driscoll and other senior leaders affect near-term Army readiness and procurement reforms?