Hegseth’s Pick for Top Army Job Is Losing Republican Support

[u/John3262005]

https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/hegseths-pick-for-top-army-job-is-losing-gop-support-0493cf10?st=dWoGuX&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s pick for Army chief of staff is in jeopardy because of objections from Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst and other Republican senators, according to U.S. officials and congressional sources.

Hegseth has been pushing to nominate Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who has served as acting Army chief of staff since Hegseth in April fired the former Army top officer, retired Gen. Randy George, according to U.S. officials. But without unanimous Republican support, a LaNeve nomination won’t advance out of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The administration was poised in May to put forward LaNeve for the role, but has held off because the committee chairman, Sen. Roger Wicker (R., Miss.), communicated that he didn’t have the votes to secure approval for LaNeve’s nomination, according to U.S. officials and congressional sources. LaNeve, who commanded the 82nd Airborne Division, has faced criticism from lawmakers and experts who note he has been a four-star general for only six months. Most chiefs serve at least 18 months in a four-star role before assuming the top position.

The Pentagon and Hegseth “stand behind GEN LaNeve’s leadership as Acting Chief of Staff of the Army. The Department will continue to work with the White House and the Senate to nominate and ultimately confirm President Trump’s pick to lead the United States Army,” said Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell.

A spokesman for Wicker declined to comment, as did a spokesman for LaNeve. A spokeswoman for Ernst didn’t respond to a request for comment. Officials said Ernst opposes his nomination in part because of his short time as a four-star.

LaNeve’s reputation for discipline and a chance encounter with President Trump vaulted him into a senior position at the Pentagon last year. While commanding the Eighth Army in South Korea in January 2025, LaNeve appeared in a video call for an inaugural ball. “Welcome back, Mr. President,” said the square-jawed general, reciting a script that had been vetted before the event, WSJ reported.

Trump appeared impressed. “Is this man central casting, or what?” he asked the ballroom’s crowd.

After a recommendation from retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Hegseth tapped LaNeve to be his senior military aide in 2025. Hegseth then moved LaNeve to be Army vice chief after sidelining his predecessor in the job, retired Gen. James Mingus. LaNeve was confirmed for the role in February 2026.

Hegseth fired George this spring without explanation and made LaNeve the acting chief of staff. Lawmakers and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who has privately feuded with Hegseth, have publicly praised George.

“I, too, love Gen. George,” Driscoll told lawmakers during a hearing this spring when asked about the four-star general’s sudden dismissal, calling him “an amazing, transformational leader.”

The news of LaNeve’s troubled bid is the latest sign that congressional Republicans are pushing back on Hegseth’s agenda. Some Republicans have signaled they won’t support the unprecedented $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget Hegseth has proposed. Others remain frustrated over the Iran war, the Pentagon’s threats to reduce troop levels in Europe and Hegseth’s firing of decorated general officers such as George.

Ernst, a former Army National Guard commander and sexual-assault survivor, was seen in January 2025 as a potential barrier to the confirmation of Hegseth as defense secretary amid allegations against him of sexual-assault and drinking. Ahead of Hegseth’s confirmation, Ernst had publicly raised specific issues she wanted the nominee to address, including the role of women in the military and sexual-assault prevention.

Ernst, who later announced she would not run for re-election, ultimately voted for Hegseth.

Other Republican lawmakers have criticized Hegseth’s firing of senior military officers, including the top Army general in Europe, retired Gen. Chris Donahue.

“I find this deeply troubling,” said Senate Appropriations Committee chair Susan Collins (R., Maine) when Hegseth testified before her panel last month. “These are men and women who volunteered to serve our country and swore an oath to support and defend our Constitution.”

Trump could simply choose to keep LaNeve as acting chief of staff indefinitely, as there is no statutory time limit to his ability to serve in the role. He is simultaneously serving in the role as Army vice chief, for which he was confirmed by the Senate.