GOP Sen Thom Tillis urges Trump to replace Pete Hegseth, blasts Pentagon leadership

Outgoing Sen.Thom Tillis, R-N.C., called for PresidentDonald Trumpto replace War Secretary Pete Hegseth, slamming the Pentagon leader following the news that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was resigning.

“I urge the President to find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it,” Tillis declared in a fiery Wednesdayposton X.

Tillis praised Driscoll in the post — and apparently referring to ex-Army chief of staff Gen.Randy George (ret.), the senator declared, “He and General George began a transformative period of innovation in how we array our forces and equip our Soldiers.He challenged our legacy approach to manning and procurement.Most of all, he cared deeply about the men and women in our Army formations and quickly earned their respect.”

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But Tillis excoriatedHegseth.

“If we had a @SecWar who maintained the same priorities and forward-thinking, he would be fighting to retain talented leaders like Dan and the many flag officers he has forced into retirement.Instead, he is creating a leadership void at the top of our military ranks,” the senator wrote.

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ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF ORDERED TO RETIRE IMMEDIATELY AS HEGSETH CONTINUES PENTAGON SHAKEUP

Sen.Thom Tillis, R-N.C., talks with reporters in the U.S.Capitol on Friday, August 7, 2026.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

“I served on Senate Armed Services for 8 years and as chair or ranking member of the Personnel and Readiness subcommittee.I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country.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,” the lawmaker declared.

Tillis, who announced last year that he would not seek re-election, toldPolitico Magazineearlier this year that he would “love to see Pete Hegseth fired because he’s incompetent and doing a horrible job.”

The War Department declined to provide comment on Thursday.

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TRUMP’S ARMY SECRETARY HUNT TAKES SHAPE AS INSIDERS FLOAT POTENTIAL PICKS

Then-U.S.Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, War Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Donald Trump attend a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base for military casualties of the war with Iran on July 22, 2026, in Dover, Del.(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Driscoll, in a Tuesday statement issued on the official Secretary of the Army X account, noted that Wednesday would be his final full day in the position.

“As a third-generation Army veteran, it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as the Secretary of the Army under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth.Tomorrow is my last full day in the role,” Driscoll said in thestatement.

“I had the privilege of working with them to modernize and accelerate how the Army mans, trains, and equips the most lethal fighting force on the face of the earth.We could not have made the progress we did without the support of Secretary Hegseth.I am forever grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to once again serve my country,” he noted.

ARMY SECRETARY DAN DRISCOLL SUBMITS RESIGNATION TO TRUMP

President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth listen to questions from the press during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David in Maryland, on July 31, 2026.(Aaron Schwartz / AFP via Getty Images)

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A source familiar with Driscoll“Driscoll brought up concerns with the administration surroundingArmy transformationand readiness and Hegseth’s blocking those efforts specifically by firing the Generals who were responsible.”

� Jennifer Griffin and Liz Friden contributed to this report.