Senate Republicans are standing by embattled Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, but they are privately wondering how much time he has left atop the Pentagon amid ongoing turmoil within the Trump administration, which resulted in the replacement of national security adviser Mike Waltz on Thursday.

Republican senators expressed disappointment over the initial news that Waltz would step down as national security adviser. They viewed him as well qualified for the job and a steady hand to work with Hegseth, who has less national security policy experience.

Hours after news broke of Waltz's impending departure, Trump nominated him to be United Nations ambassador and added the national security adviser role to the portfolio of Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“He did a very good job as national security adviser. It’s the prerogative of the president to decide who his team will be, but I was sorry to see that news,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said of Waltz.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who wavered on voting to confirm Hegseth, called Waltz’s departure “disappointing.”

“He’s a good guy,” he said.

GOP lawmakers view Hegseth less favorably, and several Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), said the Defense........

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