Thom Tillis Says Pete Hegseth Has Lost His Confidence After Confirmation Vote

North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis has publicly stated that he regrets his vote to confirm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Senator Tillis criticized the administration's performance, characterizing the Pentagon's execution under current leadership as a "sophomoric sort of execution."

Defense Secretary Hegseth recently defended a multi-billion-dollar emergency war package before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Committee members pressed officials over rising military costs and whether the administration had presented a clear long-term strategy for the war.

Senator Tillis pointed directly to repeated leadership setbacks during a recorded interview. "He's just had so many misstarts," Tillis said while explaining why he no longer believes Hegseth has demonstrated the experience needed to lead the Pentagon.

Chair Susan Collins presided over the tense budget hearing as lawmakers demanded clearer operational goals and accountability for the funding request. General Dan Caine joined Hegseth in outlining military requirements and the administration's request for additional resources.

Democratic Senator Patty Murray challenged the urgency of the supplemental request during the hearing. She questioned whether the Pentagon had fully justified asking Congress for more billions.

President Donald Trump continues urging Republicans to support the administration's supplemental defense package as debate over the Iran conflict intensifies on Capitol Hill. At the same time, several Republican senators have publicly questioned both the rising cost of the conflict and Hegseth's leadership.

Tillis also criticized Hegseth's handling of senior military leadership, pointing to the forced retirement of experienced commanders as another reason he has lost confidence in the defense secretary. He later told reporters, "I don't have any confidence in him anymore," citing what he described as repeated management failures inside the Pentagon.

Congress is expected to keep pressing Pentagon officials for more details as lawmakers debate the administration's funding request. The hearing made clear that concerns over the cost of the war and the administration's strategy are now shared by Republicans and Democrats, making the debate increasingly bipartisan.