The senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of hollowing out the Army’s senior ranks and leaving the military chain of command in limbo.
The shot across Mr. Hegseth’s bow came after Army Secretary Dan Driscoll’s resignation on Monday.
“In the Army alone, he has fired and blocked the promotion of dozens of senior officers without explanation, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and half of all four-star generals,” Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, a former Army officer and West Point graduate, said in a statement. “Secretary Hegseth is creating a culture where dissent is punished, and competence is secondary to personal allegiance.”
Mr. Reed praised Mr. Driscoll for engaging with Congress “candidly and consistently” as he worked to transform the Army for the battlefield of the future.
“I am alarmed that Secretary Driscoll’s leadership of the Army stands in stark contrast to Secretary Hegseth’s disastrous tenure atop the Defense Department,” Mr. Reed said. “We are watching the consequences of Secretary Hegseth’s actions ripple across the force in morale, in readiness, and in the erosion of public trust in the military. Secretary Hegseth must be held accountable.”
The senator said Mr. Driscoll’s replacement must be an individual with “wisdom, experience, and expertise” needed to lead the more than 1 million soldiers and civilians in the Army.
“There are many strong candidates available to President Trump, and I urge him to nominate a leader with the qualities required to meet this challenging moment,” Mr. Reed said.
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