Topline
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., called on President Donald Trump to fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday over a “leadership void at the top of our military ranks” as Army Secretary Dan Driscoll became the latest high-ranking military official to depart his role after months of tension with Hegseth.
DOVER, DELAWARE – JULY 22: (L-R) U.S. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and U.S. 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, Delaware. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
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Key Facts
Tillis lauded Driscoll and said he and former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, who Hegseth fired in April, “began a transformative period of innovation in how we array our forces and equip our soldiers,” writing on X, “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.”
Tillis joins a growing group of GOP lawmakers who have raised concerns about the wave of firings and resignations under Hegseth after Driscoll submitted his resignation Monday—Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, told reporters Tuesday, “I’m tired of all the churn . . . I want to see some stability over there,” while Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., and Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., also expressed unease.
Rounds told reporters on Tuesday he is “hearing the same rumors everybody else is that he was frustrated with some of his top generals being released,” adding that senators will be asking “questions . . . in terms of, where is the leadership at” when they return from recess.
Other Republicans praised Driscoll, but stopped short of criticizing his exit and those of other top military brass.
Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., told Punchbowl, “he’s a good man that did a good job,” adding, “I hate to see him go, but I can’t say I’m surprised,” Rep. Steve Womack, R-Ark., called Driscoll a “transformative leader” and said he looks forward “to continuing to work with Pentagon leadership to ensure our Army is ready to fight,” while Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., said Driscoll’s “leadership made the Army stronger, and the impact of his work will be felt long after his time as secretary.”
Driscoll reportedly expressed concerns directly to Trump last week about the leadership gap, and Trump reportedly said he was surprised and concerned about the leadership cuts, The Atlantic reported Monday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the conversation.
Crucial Quote
“I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country,” Tillis wrote on X. “[Hegseth] is intimated by competence and retreats into 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, who is not running for reelection, has repeatedly criticized Hegseth and has previously expressed a desire for Trump to fire him.
Contra
Driscoll said “we could have not made the progress we did without the support of Secretary Hegseth,” he wrote on X Tuesday without stating the reason for his resignation. He said Wednesday would be his last day.
Why did Driscoll resign?
Driscoll and Hegseth reportedly clashed over some of Hegseth’s personnel decisions, including his removal of two Black men and two women from a list of potential promotions to one-star generals. Driscoll reportedly refused to remove the names, The New York Times reported in March. In February, Hegseth forced the resignation of Col. David Butler, a longtime Army spokesperson and one of Driscoll’s senior advisers, multiple outlets reported. When Hegseth fired George in April, Driscoll told lawmakers in a hearing when asked about his dismissal, “I, too, love Gen. George.” Hegseth also appeared to have an issue with Driscoll’s level of responsibility, The Washington Post reported in February. Driscoll was a leader in discussions to end the Russia-Ukraine war and served as interim director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Hegseth allegedly lashed out at Driscoll and told him to stay in his lane shortly after Trump took office last year, when Driscoll suggested he could arrange a visit between his close friend and former Yale Law School colleague, Vice President JD Vance, and Trump, with soldiers about reforming the Army, according to the The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources. After Hegseth participated in a compromised Signal chat that was later leaked to the media, Hegseth worried Trump could replace him with Driscoll, according to the Journal.
Tangent
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly lauded Driscoll in a statement to multiple outlets upon news of his resignation. She said he “has been highly effective in advancing President Trump’s agenda to Make America Strong Again at the Department of the Army by providing outstanding leadership during historic military operations, restoring an emphasis on readiness and lethality, assisting with negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and more,” adding, “The United States Army is more powerful than ever thanks to his work alongside the Commander-in-Chief and Secretary of War.”
Key Background
The Army has fewer generals than at any point in recent history, according to The Atlantic, and the number of four-star generals on active duty is down to five, from 10, when Hegseth took office, The New York Times reported in April. Hegseth replaced George with Gen. Chris LaNeve. Army Gen. Christopher Donahue also resigned in June after Hegseth allegedly blocked him from extending his career. The Trump administration has said it intends to formally nominate LaNeve for the position permanently, but has yet to do so, amid opposition from at least one Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. LaNeve is serving as both acting chief of staff and vice chief of staff, replacing Gen. James Mingus in the latter role after Hegseth forced out Mingus last year.
further reading
Top Army General Fired After Disagreement Over Kid Rock Helicopter Probe, Report Says—As Vacancies Mount Under Hegseth (Forbes)
Trump Strongly Denies Feud With Hegseth—Amid Backlash Over Munitions (Forbes)
Pete Hegseth Denies Report He’s Running For President In 2028: ‘100% False’ (Forbes)
