Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is intensifying his calls for the removal of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite having voted to confirm him.
Tillis delivered his sharpest remarks yet on Thursday, telling reporters, “He needs to go, whether it’s impeachment or the most expedient route — just the president to replace him — would be great.”
The senator’s renewed criticism follows the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll at the end of August after repeated clashes with Hegseth over leadership changes at the Pentagon.
Driscoll’s disputes with Hegseth centered on the firing of the Army’s senior leadership and broader changes to the department that created significant internal friction.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on Tuesday, accusing him of violating his “oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Massie’s impeachment effort specifically cited Hegseth’s handling of the Iran war, alleging the defense secretary launched military action without proper congressional authorization.
Massie took the additional step of making his resolution privileged, forcing it directly to the House floor for a vote within two days under existing House rules.
When asked whether Republicans should back the articles of impeachment, Tillis signaled deference to the lower chamber, telling reporters, “I’ll let the House do what the House is gonna do.”
Tillis had previously told Politico that firing Hegseth was on “a Christmas wish list,” and argued that the Pentagon chief had misled President Trump on the dynamics of the war in Iran.
The North Carolina senator served on the Senate Armed Services Committee and has emerged as one of the most vocal Republican critics of Hegseth’s leadership of the Defense Department.
Hegseth’s tenure has been marked by persistent controversy, with battles over senior military appointments and departmental restructuring fueling tensions both inside the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill.
The push to remove Hegseth represents one of the most significant Republican-led challenges to a sitting cabinet secretary in recent memory, with pressure now mounting from both chambers of Congress.
