Republican Senator Thom Tillis has publicly criticised US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling his leadership "inept" and appearing to allude to previous reports about Hegseth's alcohol consumption. The remarks came in a lengthy social media post urging President Trump to replace Hegseth, following the resignation of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who had reportedly clashed with Hegseth over his handling of the department. The intervention highlights growing friction within the Pentagon's leadership and among Republicans over Hegseth's tenure.

Tillis, who is retiring from the Senate and has previously clashed with Trump, accused Hegseth of "ginning up culture wars" rather than "soberly" tending to national defence, and said he had "never witnessed more inept management" of military personnel. Driscoll's resignation followed reported tensions with Hegseth, including the ousting of several of Driscoll's allies, and came shortly after Driscoll voiced concerns directly to Trump about cuts to senior Army leadership. The Pentagon declined to comment, and the departure leaves the US military without confirmed top civilian leadership as it resumes airstrikes against Iran.