Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who voted to confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary, now calls for his removal following the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Tillis stated bluntly: "He needs to go, whether it's impeachment or the most expedient route — just the president to replace him — would be great."
This reversal marks a dramatic shift. Tillis supported Hegseth's confirmation despite documented controversies surrounding the Pentagon chief, including past allegations of sexual assault, excessive drinking, and workplace misconduct. Now, with Driscoll's exit from the Pentagon's second-ranking civilian position, Tillis has joined Republicans openly questioning Hegseth's fitness for the job.
Driscoll's resignation signals internal collapse at the Defense Department. The Army Secretary's departure reflects deep dysfunction under Hegseth's leadership. Multiple sources within the Pentagon reported deteriorating morale, erratic decision-making, and Hegseth's management failures. The loss of a senior civilian leader at the Army adds weight to accusations that Hegseth cannot run the nation's largest military service branch.
Tillis' position carries political weight. He sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, which oversees military affairs and personnel. His willingness to entertain impeachment as an option sends a message to other Republicans that Hegseth's position weakens by the day. Impeachment requires a simple majority in the House and a two-thirds majority in the Senate for conviction. Current Republican control makes removal through impeachment unlikely unless significant GOP defections occur.
Trump appointed Hegseth as a loyalist without prior Pentagon experience. The former Fox News host and Army National Guard officer brought a combative style and ideological focus on perceived woke elements within the military. His confirmation split Republicans. Some praised his outsider credentials and defense priorities. Others worried his lack of experience made him unsuitable for running an organization with 2.8 million active-duty and reserve personnel worldwide.
The pattern of departures from Hegseth's Pentagon grew concerning. Key personnel left their posts. Morale complaints multiplied. Congressional staffers reported growing alarm about leadership vacuums affecting military readiness and strategic planning during a period of global tension with China, Russia, and Middle East instability.
Tillis' language about impeachment differs from his November confirmation vote. Then, he weighed the allegations against Hegseth but ultimately backed Trump's choice. Now, the operational failures on the ground shifted his calculus. For a senator in his position, supporting removal of a failed Defense Secretary protects his credibility on military matters heading into budget seasons and defense policy debates.
Other Republicans remain quieter. Some avoid direct calls for resignation. Others defend Hegseth while acknowledging mistakes. The divide reflects Trump's lingering control over the GOP base and reluctance from many Republicans to openly defy the president. Tillis, however, judged that military effectiveness and Pentagon stability outweigh party loyalty in this instance.
Trump has not signaled any willingness to replace Hegseth. The president views the controversies as overblown media attacks on his team. Whether Tillis' public call gains traction among other Senate Republicans depends on whether more Pentagon resignations occur or military readiness failures become undeniable.