Republican senators are growing increasingly frustrated with President Donald Trump's defense chief, according to The Hill, "losing confidence" as the Pentagon descends into chaos.
On Monday, the outlet reported that several GOP lawmakers were privately hoping to see Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as the next major firing by Trump, citing his endless feuds with top military leaders that have seen various respected names forced out, including Navy Secretary John Phelan and Army Chief of Staff Randy George, as well as his reported conflict with the well-liked Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Some of these senators, speaking anonymously, admitted that Hegseth would not be confirmed again if his nomination were put forward again today.
These recent issues, the outlet explained, have come on the heels of longstanding worries about his fitness for the extremely important office that he holds.
"One Republican senator who requested anonymity said there have long been questions within the Senate GOP conference over Hegseth’s lack of experience managing a large and complex bureaucracy, as well as leeriness about his unconventional and often brash leadership style," The Hill explained. "The lawmaker, however, said confidence in Hegseth has dropped among Republicans because of his battles with senior military leaders who have strong relations with policymakers on Capitol Hill."
“The hollowing out of incredible leadership at the Pentagon has been a big concern,” the anonymous senator told the outlet. “It really came to a tipping point when Gen. George was dismissed.”
Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina senator retiring from office soon, was among the few lawmakers who did not speak anonymously about their issues with Hegseth, questioning his ability to manage an agency so vast and complicated as the Pentagon, when his only past military management experience saw him in command of "30 or 40 people" at most.
"I think he’s missing the mark on personnel," Tillis said. "He has separated some of the most extraordinary generals that we’ve had in play. I don’t quite know what’s going on there."
He added: “Now he’s got an organization that’s much larger, much more complex than anything he’s done. I think he’s making some less-than-ideal personnel decisions.”
Tillis, who famously cast the "pivotal" vote to confirm Hegseth last year, said that, as of now, "there’s no question he’s got a failing grade," and noted that "in some respects he’s displaying the exact lack of experience" that caused Kristi Noem to get axed as Homeland Security secretary.
Sen. Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican, was another name who spoke with The Hill on the record, calling George's dismissal a "mistake" and expressing bewilderment about the reasoning for it.
"I have the greatest admiration and respect for Gen. Randy George. He’s probably one of the finest officers the United States Army has ever produced. It was a mistake for Secretary Hegseth to dismiss him,” Ernst said. “As far as the reason for his dismissal, I wouldn’t even begin to know what it was."
