Senate Republicans Question Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Leadership Amid Personnel Turmoil

A growing bloc of Senate Republicans says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s tenure is marked by “unacceptable level of personnel turmoil.” The removal of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in early April and the firing of Navy Secretary John Phelan last week are cited as tipping points that have “hollowed out incredible leadership at the Pentagon.” Lawmakers argue the turnover undermines the department’s ability to manage the ongoing war with Iran and to steward the $1.5 trillion budget request.

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Since his confirmation last year, Hegseth—formerly an infantry officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard who managed “30 or 40 people”—has overseen a cascade of senior-level changes. In addition to Gen. George and Secretary Phelan, the Pentagon has dismissed Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. C.Q. Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Defense Intelligence Agency director Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife. Hegseth’s office frames the moves as necessary to align the department with the administration’s priorities.

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• Pete Hegseth – Secretary of Defense, appointed by President Trump.

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• Gen. Randy George – Former Army Chief of Staff, asked to resign April 2024.

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• John Phelan – Former Navy Secretary, dismissed April 2024.

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• Dan Driscoll – Army Secretary, reportedly at odds with Hegseth.

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• Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) – Voted for Hegseth’s confirmation; now questions his management skills.

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• Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) – Chair of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats; called George’s dismissal a mistake.

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• Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) – Expressed surprise at Phelan’s firing.

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• Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) – Shocked by George’s ouster.

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• Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) – Committee chair; criticized the removal of the flu-shot requirement.

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• Sean Parnell – Pentagon spokesperson; defended the need for leadership changes.

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• Early April 2024 – Gen. Randy George asked to resign.

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• Mid-April 2024 – Navy Secretary John Phelan dismissed.

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• April 2024 – Additional senior officers (Brown, Franchetti, Kruse, Slife) removed.

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• Wednesday, May 2024 – Hegseth to testify before the House Armed Services Committee.

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• Thursday, May 2024 – Hegseth to appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

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Republican senators argue that “unacceptable level of personnel turmoil” threatens the Pentagon’s capacity to conduct operations against Iran, including recent rescue missions of downed airmen. The leadership instability coincides with the department’s $1.5 trillion budget request, raising concerns about strategic continuity and congressional oversight.

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Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the secretary “does not comment on the nature of [senior officers’] departure” but noted that reform “requires officers who fully embrace the administration’s priorities.” Committee chair Roger Wicker labeled the decision to drop the mandatory flu-shot requirement “a mistake,” citing its long-standing safety record.

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Sen. Tillis warned that Hegseth “has a failing grade” on technical and managerial skills, while Ernst called the dismissal of Gen. George “a mistake.” Rounds described Phelan’s termination as “surprising,” noting the secretary had been meeting with Republican lawmakers ahead of the National Defense Authorization Act.

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• “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-NC

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• “Now he’s got an organization that’s much larger, much more complex than anything he’s done,” — Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC

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• “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,” — Sen. Joni Ernst, R-IA

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• “We’re assuming he was simply making house calls to touch base with all of us with the [National Defense Authorization Act] coming through.” — Sen. Mike Rounds, R-SD

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Hegseth will face intensive questioning from both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees this week. Republican senators have signaled a preference for a new secretary, echoing recent administration moves at the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department. The hearings could determine whether Hegseth remains in place as the Pentagon navigates the fiscal year and the continuing conflict with Iran.

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