Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday, May 16, calling his moves to cut U.S. troop presence in Europe “amateur hour at best and deadly at worst.”
In a detailed post on X, Tillis aimed at Hegseth’s decision to cancel a planned deployment of about 4,000 troops to Poland and other recent steps to reduce American forces on the continent.
He also raised alarms over reports that Hegseth wants to downgrade U.S. Army Europe-Africa from a four-star to a three-star command, a change that could sideline Lt. Gen. Chris Donahue.
Tillis described the overall approach as impulsive and lacking sound judgment. “Hegseth continues to surprise and disrespect our greatest allies and some of our best military professionals,” he wrote.
Who is Lt. Gen. Chris Donahue?
The senator singled out Donahue for praise, calling him one of the nation’s finest warfighters. Donahue commanded the 82nd Airborne Division and later led U.S. Army Europe-Africa.
He deployed more than 20 times in support of operations, including Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Atlantic Resolve.
In August 2021, Donahue became the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan, boarding a C-17 transport at Kabul’s airport as the U.S. mission ended.
Tillis said Hegseth should surround himself with officers like Donahue instead of what he called “political henchmen” and “mediocre yes-men” who are not qualified for top Pentagon roles.
The criticism comes after Hegseth signed a memo canceling the deployment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team from the 1st Cavalry Division to Poland.
Some soldiers had already begun preparations, and advance teams were in Europe when the order arrived.
Also Read: Pentagon Confirms 5,000 U.S. Troops Leaving Germany Following Trump Order
The Pentagon also canceled another deployment to Germany and has moved forward with plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from bases there.
These actions follow months of tension between the Trump administration and European allies over defense spending and support during the Iran conflict.
President Trump and Hegseth have repeatedly said that European nations must shoulder their own security costs rather than rely on the United States.
Tillis has long supported a strong U.S. presence in Europe and NATO. He voted to confirm Hegseth as defense secretary earlier this year but has grown vocal as the administration’s plans have taken shape.
The senator’s post drew quick pushback from America First conservatives, who argued that Europe has underfunded its militaries for decades while depending on American taxpayers.
They said it was time for allies to step up and for the U.S. to focus more on domestic priorities and threats closer to home.
Others defended Hegseth’s approach as a necessary correction after years of what they call strategic drift. They pointed out that Poland spends a higher percentage of GDP on defense than most NATO members and has been a reliable partner.
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Pentagon officials and European diplomats were caught off guard by the speed and scope of the recent decisions. Polish leaders expressed surprise but said they received assurances that core U.S. commitments would remain in place.
Tillis stopped short of calling for Hegseth’s removal. He urged the secretary to choose merit over loyalty in personnel decisions and to ground future moves in “reality and good judgment.”
Growing Cracks Within Republican Ranks Over Foreign Policy
In recent weeks, cracks have been widening within the ruling party over foreign policy. While many in the party back Trump’s pressure on NATO allies to spend more, help U.S. Forces in their mission in the Middle East, others worry that sudden force reductions could embolden adversaries like Russia at a time when tensions remain high.
Tillis said forcing out officers of Donahue’s caliber hurts the military’s warrior ethos rather than restoring it.
Donahue’s record includes leadership in airborne, mechanized, Ranger, and special operations units. He has served in combat zones across multiple administrations.
Hegseth has not publicly responded to Tillis’ comments, but the Defense Department said the troop adjustments are part of a broader realignment to match current threats and allied contributions.
