Senator Tillis urges Trump to fire Defence Secretary Hegseth

September 3, 2026 at 02:37 AM1 min

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US Senator Thom Tillis called on President Donald Trump to fire Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth for creating a 'leadership void' in the military. Tillis contrasted Hegseth unfavourably with former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who resigned on Monday. The criticism comes as the US military is strained by the war with Iran.

Key Facts

Senator Thom Tillis accused Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth of 'inept mismanagement' and urged President Trump to fire him.
Tillis contrasted Hegseth with former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who resigned on Monday.
Tillis is a Republican from North Carolina who announced in June 2025 he would not seek re-election.
Hegseth has pursued controversial Pentagon changes, including limiting journalistic access and removing transgender service members.

Tillis's Criticism

In a social media post on Wednesday, Tillis wrote that he had 'never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country'. He accused Hegseth of being 'intimidated by competence' and retreating to 'ginning up culture wars' instead of attending to national defence. Tillis urged the President to find a new Pentagon leader who will 'retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it'. The senator pointed to evolving warfare in Ukraine and Iran, saying former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll 'understands the old way of doing business no longer applies'.

Hegseth's Pentagon Record

Hegseth, a military veteran and former TV host, was confirmed early in Trump's second term despite criticisms of his conduct towards women. Since taking office, he has attempted to limit journalistic access to the Defence Department and root out what he calls 'wokeness' from the military. His efforts have reportedly included firing top military leaders, blocking promotions, removing transgender service members, and reviewing admissions standards for military academies.