A leading Republican senator is raising serious concerns about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s handling of senior military leadership, creating one of the most notable public disagreements within the GOP over Pentagon personnel decisions.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, sharply criticized the removal of dozens of senior military officers during an appropriations hearing Tuesday, saying the recent changes have raised important questions about transparency and military leadership.
“I find this deeply troubling,” Collins said during her opening statement.
She noted that the officers affected volunteered to serve the United States and took an oath to defend the Constitution, adding that their years of service deserve careful consideration whenever major personnel decisions are made.
Collins Questions Pentagon Leadership Changes
Collins, who is seeking another Senate term in 2026, pointed specifically to the February 2025 dismissal of Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman in U.S. history to serve as Chief of Naval Operations.
The Maine Republican said that since Hegseth assumed leadership of the Pentagon, numerous high-ranking military officials have been removed, promotions across multiple branches have been delayed, and senior command assignments have faced unusual levels of intervention.
She argued that Congress has a responsibility to understand why so many experienced military leaders have been replaced in such a short period of time.
Concerns About Military Recruitment
Collins also referenced reports suggesting that women and minority officers have been disproportionately affected by the recent leadership shakeup.
She warned that the perception of unfair treatment could discourage qualified Americans from pursuing military careers.
“The United States military is one of the greatest meritocracies in the free world,” Collins said. “We need to make sure that it stays that way.”
Her comments focused on maintaining confidence in the military’s longstanding tradition of promoting leaders based on experience, performance, and merit.
Bipartisan Concerns Grow
The controversy surrounding Hegseth’s leadership decisions has attracted attention from lawmakers in both parties.
Among the senior officers who have left their positions are former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and Gen. Chris Donahue, who previously commanded U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
While the Defense Department has maintained that senior leadership changes fall within the authority of the secretary of defense and the commander in chief, several members of Congress have called for greater oversight.
Congress Pushes for More Transparency
The House Armed Services Committee recently approved, without objection, a bipartisan provision in the annual National Defense Authorization Act that would require the Pentagon to notify Congress within five days whenever a senior military officer is removed or dismissed.
The proposal would also require Defense Department officials to provide lawmakers with an explanation for those decisions, giving Congress additional oversight of significant leadership changes inside the nation’s armed forces.
The measure reflects growing bipartisan interest in ensuring that major personnel decisions at the Pentagon remain transparent and subject to congressional review.