Cracks are forming in the Republican wall of silence around Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's abrupt firing of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, with a growing number of GOP lawmakers publicly questioning the move and demanding answers.
George, a four-star general who has led the Army since 2023, was told to retire immediately on April 2 with no public explanation from the Pentagon. The silence hasn't sat well with several senior Republicans who oversee military policy, an unusual display of intraparty friction on a national security matter, Newsweek reported Thursday.
Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) warned during a House Armed Services Committee hearing this week that George's ouster could have a "chilling effect" across the military, discouraging senior officers from offering frank assessments for fear of getting axed.
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), a retired Air Force brigadier general, was more blunt. "Firing without cause shows lack of character," Bacon posted on X, directing that criticism squarely at the Pentagon chief. He also said Hegseth "owes an explanation to the tax paying citizens."
House Appropriations Committee chair Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) called George a "great patriot" whose departure was deeply felt, while retired General Jack Keane — a prominent conservative defense voice — said on Fox News he flat-out disagreed with the decision.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll offered the closest thing to a mea culpa, telling lawmakers Thursday: "I just want the record to reflect how much we regret, I personally regret, at least, he’s no longer in active service. He’s a real loss to us, in my opinion."