Hegseth faces mounting pressure after Republican midterm losses

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has become the primary target of political fallout following Republicans' devastating midterm losses, with lawmakers questioning whether President Donald Trump will make him a scapegoat. Hegseth faces an imminent threat when Congress returns for its lame-duck session. Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican who voted to confirm Hegseth, called that vote his biggest regret and warned the defense secretary faces "a reckoning" over stalled defense funding. Tillis publicly urged Trump to dismiss Hegseth, citing "inept management" and a focus on culture wars, while Democrats threaten to block a $70 billion emergency defense request. Hegseth also faces impeachment articles introduced by Rep. Thomas Massie, accusing him of unauthorized military actions in Iran and other constitutional violations. Pentagon officials say Hegseth remains "100% committed" to serving, while Trump has publicly defended him as "the best at his job in many, many years."