Senate Republicans Turn on Hegseth: ‘Failing Grade’ on Military Leadership Amid Iran War
Turmoil at the Pentagon – A Timeline
WASHINGTON — A rapidly expanding circle of Republican senators has openly turned against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, warning that the “turmoil” he has created at the Pentagon is paralyzing the military’s leadership just as the United States fights a two-front crisis .
Senior GOP lawmakers are now describing Hegseth’s management as a “failing grade” . Pressured by an escalating war with Iran, members of the Armed Services Committee are signaling that if Hegseth were up for confirmation today, he would not get the votes to keep his job .
“He Wouldn’t Be Confirmed Today”
The dam broke this week as previously supportive Republicans began speaking publicly.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a key vote who helped push Hegseth through confirmation last year, delivered the most scathing critique: “There’s no question he’s got a failing grade” on management skills .
“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,” Tillis said .
The North Carolina senator noted that while Hegseth had experience leading small teams as an officer, “Now he’s got an organization that’s much larger, much more complex than anything he’s done” .
According to four GOP senators speaking anonymously to The Hill, the removal of Gen. Randy George and the abrupt firing of Navy Secretary John Phelan were “tipping points” that shattered confidence .
“The hollowing out of incredible leadership at the Pentagon has been a big concern,” one senator said. “It really came to a tipping point when Gen. George was dismissed” .
The Firing of a Hero
Why did Hegseth fire Gen. Randy George?
According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, George was caught in the crossfire of a bitter internal war between Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll .
Driscoll—a close ally of Vice President JD Vance—had been defying Hegseth over personnel lists. When Hegseth ordered the removal of four minority officers from a promotion list, Driscoll refused . The dispute reportedly leaked to the press, and Hegseth—suspecting George was the source—called the general while Driscoll was out of town. In a terse phone call lasting less than a minute, Hegseth demanded George’s resignation after 42 years of service .
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, called the move tragic.
“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 .
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said she was “shocked” by the firing. “I had an opportunity to travel with George and I’ve never been so impressed by a military general. This guy knows what’s going on. I was shocked he was fired,” she said .
“Not Good”: The Risk of War
As the war with Iran grinds on, senators fear that the infighting is degrading the chain of command.
“We’re in the middle of a war. We got to know that things are being managed. So, not good,” Murkowski told reporters .
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has also publicly broken with Hegseth over policy, suggesting the Defense Secretary’s decision to end mandatory flu vaccines for troops lacks the same justification as COVID-19 precautions.
For their part, White House and Pentagon officials have circled the wagons. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the shakeups, arguing that “It is extremely difficult to reform a department—particularly a department the size of DoD—with the same personnel who were a part of previous priorities” .
The Fallout: Can He Survive?
While Senate aides say a majority of GOP members would privately support a change in leadership, publicly they are waiting to see if President Trump steps in.
Hegseth is scheduled to meet with senators this week to present the administration’s exit strategy for the Iran war—a meeting that will effectively serve as a make-or-break job interview .
Given the gravity of the wartime situation, however, it remains unclear whether President Trump will heed the warnings from the Hill. For now, as officials waited for the secretary to arrive on Monday, the mood was described by one administration source as “uncharted turmoil” .
Key Takeaways
| Lawmaker | Key Criticism | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) | “He’s got a failing grade” — management lacking; bad personnel picks | Public, On Record |
| Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) | Firing Gen. George was a “mistake” | Public, On Record |
| Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) | “Shocked” by firings; “We’re in the middle of a war… not good” | Public, On Record |
| Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) | Phelan firing was a “surprise” | Public, On Record |
| Multiple Anonymous Senators | Hegseth “wouldn’t be confirmed today” | Anonymous (The Hill) |
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