How Republicans are coming after Pete HegsethPete Hegseth entered Donald Trump’s second administration as one of its most trusted loyalists — a Fox News star turned defence secretary who promised to bring ideological clarity, forceful military action and a Trump-first worldview to the Pentagon. Ten months later, the Republican establishment that backed him is now turning on him.The reason is not a policy disagreement or a partisan fight. It is a lethal operation in Latin America, a second strike that killed two survivors, and a growing belief among Republicans that the Pentagon under Hegseth has become secretive, erratic, and unwilling to answer basic questions. What began as frustration inside classified briefings has escalated into the most serious internal revolt of Trump’s second term.Here’s what is driving the backlash.
The boat strike that triggered the revolt
Everything changed after a US strike on 2 September against a suspected drug-smuggling vessel. The first missile killed most of the people onboard. Two survived, clinging to wreckage. Minutes later, a second strike killed them too.Republican lawmakers expected clear answers about why the second strike was authorised and whether it complied with the law of armed conflict. Instead, Pentagon officials arrived without lawyers, could not explain the legal framework, and struggled to describe even the basic decision chain behind the mission.For many Republicans, the absence of transparency was more alarming than the operation itself. The sentiment leaving the room was blunt: “We can’t get straight answers from our own defence secretary.”
Why Republicans say their patience has run out
Hegseth’s problems did not begin with the boat strike. For months, Republicans on key committees have complained privately that he has:
- cut Congress out of major decisions
- ignored oversight requests
- rejected established consultation norms
- centralised decision-making around a small inner circle
The September operation simply turned long-standing irritation into open confrontation. Senior Republicans who once defended Hegseth now say confidence in his leadership has eroded. Others refuse to say publicly whether they still back him — a Washington signal that support is slipping.The pattern they see is not one bad call, but a defence secretary who treats Congress as optional.
The Bradley question and its political danger
The spotlight now extends to Adm Frank Bradley, the commander who oversaw the operation. He is expected to argue that the survivors remained legitimate targets and could have retrieved narcotics floating in the water or alerted accomplices.Republicans want to know whether Bradley acted independently or followed a verbal directive to ensure “no survivors.” They are demanding full surveillance video and communication logs to determine precisely what happened — and whether the Pentagon’s public explanations match the footage.If inconsistencies emerge, the political damage will expand from Bradley to Hegseth, and from Hegseth to the White House.
A wider pattern making Republicans uneasy
Beyond the boat strike and the transparency issues, Hegseth has alarmed Republicans with several decisions:
- A purge of senior military officers
- A controversial Pentagon investigation into a sitting senator
- A unilateral withdrawal of a US brigade from Romania without consulting Congress
- Repeated delays in providing legally required information
Each episode strained Republican confidence. Combined, they created a perception that the Pentagon is operating without guardrails.The boat strike became the moment Republicans decided that silence carried its own political risks.
Why Republicans are coming after him now
The backlash is driven by three urgent concerns:Legal exposureIf the second strike is ultimately judged unlawful, Congress cannot appear to have ignored it. Some Republicans want to be seen as correcting, not enabling, the Pentagon.Operational credibilityA defence secretary who cannot explain a major mission weakens support for ongoing operations across Latin America and elsewhere.Political insulationRepublicans know the fallout could extend to Trump himself. Distancing early is a standard Washington survival tactic. This is why even usually loyal lawmakers are sharpening their tone.
What happens next
Republican-led committees are preparing deeper inquiries, more hearings, and broader evidence requests. If the surveillance footage contradicts public statements, the consequences could rapidly escalate.Hegseth may survive, but his authority has already been weakened. For the first time in Trump’s second term, Republicans are signalling that a cabinet official may be expendable — even one who entered office as a MAGA favourite.The message from Capitol Hill is clear: the Pentagon cannot run on loyalty alone.
