Hegseth’s Pentagon turmoil makes GOP senators uneasy

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Defense &National Security

Defense &National Security

Hegseth’s Pentagon turmoil makes GOP senators uneasy

A growing group of Senate Republicans are losing confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Pentagon leadership, with some wanting to see him “move on.”

Annabelle Gordon/AFP via Getty Images

Senate Republicans who spoke to The Hill on the condition of anonymity say Hegseth wouldn’t be confirmed to head the Pentagon if he were renominated by Trump today.

Republican defense hawks in the Senate aren’t happy about media reports that Hegseth pushed popular Army chief of staff Randy George to resign in early April, and they were surprised and disappointed to hear that he fired Navy Secretary John Phelan this past week.

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 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,” said the senator. “It really came to a tipping point when Gen. George was dismissed.”

Hegseth’s feud with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is another source of irritation for Republicans on Capitol Hill, who hold Driscoll — a longtime friend and aide to Vice President Vance — in high esteem.

“I think he’s missing the mark on personnel. 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,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said of Hegseth’s leadership at the Pentagon.

Tillis, who cast a pivotal vote for Hegseth during his Senate confirmation last year, questioned whether Hegseth has the management skills to run an organization as large and complex as the U.S. military. He noted that Hegseth, who served as an infantry officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard, had experience managing “30 or 40 people” before taking over........

© The Hill