Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has intensified his criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, warning that the Pentagon chief faces “a reckoning” in the post-election lame-duck session and questioning whether President Trump can secure defense funding with Hegseth still in his post.
“Hegseth has a reckoning,” Tillis told CBS News. “He is one of the reasons why we don’t have the funding or guarantee for defense that we need.”
Tillis, who cast the pivotal vote to confirm Hegseth in January 2025, now calls that decision “the biggest regret of my career.” The North Carolina senator has emerged as a forceful critic, frequently blaming Hegseth for ousting senior military leaders and disregarding their counsel.
“I think after the election, we need to determine whether or not he’s the best person to bring those needs to Congress,” Tillis added, noting that only about 60 days remain in the current congressional term.
Democrats have threatened to block both the $70 billion in emergency defense funding requested by the administration in June and the annual defense appropriations bill for fiscal year 2027, while the U.S. remains engaged in a military conflict with Iran. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told The Hill in September that Hegseth’s departure would help lawmakers on both sides reach bipartisan agreements on defense matters.
Hegseth could also face an impeachment vote in the House later this month or in December. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has said he will push for a vote on articles of impeachment when Congress reconvenes next week.
Tillis has publicly urged Trump to fire Hegseth, posting on X last month: “I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country. He is intimidated by competence and retreats to ginning up culture wars instead of soberly attending to the vital work of our national defense and the health and well-being of our fighting force.”
“I urge the president to find a new leader at the Pentagon who will retain and empower our military talent rather than diminish it,” he added.
The standoff over defense funding comes as Republicans prepare to take control of Congress in January, but Tillis’s comments signal growing unease within the GOP about Hegseth’s leadership. With the lame-duck window closing, the question of whether Hegseth can survive politically may hinge on his ability to restore trust among key senators.
For more on the broader political stakes, see analysis of GOP electoral risks and how Senate races are shaping up.
