A key House Republican is criticizing War Secretary Pete Hegseth's overhaul of Pentagon leadership, arguing the removal of senior military officers has hurt readiness and unnecessarily politicized the armed forces.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that the Trump administration's shake-up of the War Department has gone too far, despite his support for President Donald Trump's broader agenda.
Bacon, a retired Air Force brigadier general and member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the country benefits when military promotions and leadership decisions remain insulated from politics.
"It's wrong, to be abrupt," Bacon told host Jake Tapper.
Bacon was responding to questions about Hegseth's removal of senior officers and reports that dozens of promotions had been delayed or blocked as the Pentagon undergoes a sweeping reorganization.
"He's fired about 20 admirals and generals," Bacon said. "These are great people. We had the commander of Cyber Command fired for no reason, probably irreplaceable. Nobody could do the job the way he did it."
Bacon argued the changes have "caused damage to the Pentagon" and "our overall military," while saying the promotion process has been "politicized ... unnecessarily."
"I think it's hurt the military," he said.
According to The Independent, more than two dozen senior military officials have resigned, retired, or been dismissed since Hegseth took over the Pentagon.
The publication also cited CNN reporting that promotions for some senior officers have been slowed or denied, with critics alleging that women and minorities have been disproportionately affected.
Among the latest departures is Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe and Africa, who is stepping down after about 18 months.
Donahue previously oversaw the final phase of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan under the Biden administration.
Bacon acknowledged that a new war secretary has authority to reshape leadership but argued the scale of the changes has been excessive.
"Everybody knows, when you're the new secretary, you're the boss," he said. "I could see one or two if people aren't working out, but the way he's done it, it's been wholesale."
The Pentagon has pushed back against criticism of Hegseth's leadership, disputing reports that fear has spread through the department and dismissing accounts based on anonymous officials as unverified.
Administration officials have argued the personnel changes are intended to ensure military leaders are aligned with the president's priorities and focused on rebuilding readiness after years of what Republicans have characterized as politicization under the Biden administration.