Kaine Sees Bipartisan Backing for 5-Day Limits on Pentagon Firings as Hegseth Faces Scrutiny
Updated
Updated · eciks.org · Jun 28
Kaine Sees Bipartisan Backing for 5-Day Limits on Pentagon Firings as Hegseth Faces Scrutiny
3 articles · Updated · eciks.org · Jun 28
Summary
Tim Kaine said Congress could rally bipartisan support for guardrails on Pentagon firings, signaling the Senate may add limits as questions mount over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s removal of senior officers.
A House Armed Services Committee provision adopted June 4 already requires the Pentagon to tell Congress within five days why senior military officers were fired or dismissed.
Gen. Chris Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, is set to relinquish command on July 2 after submitting retirement papers, a departure Kaine said surprised lawmakers from both parties.
Retired Adm. Bill McRaven warned Hegseth’s firings could make senior officers less willing to give candid advice and increase the risk of military miscalculation; Kaine said he shares that concern.
Criticism has spread beyond Democrats, with GOP Sen. Thom Tillis calling Donahue’s exit another “unforced error” and accusing Hegseth of insecure micromanagement rather than careful stewardship.