Pete Hegseth’s pick for Army chief of staff is being blocked by Republican senators, a new report alleges. Hegseth wants 59-year-old Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who has been acting Army chief of staff, to permanently replace retired Gen. Randy George. To advance to a floor vote, LaNeve would need support from all Republicans on the committee, which the GOP controls, 14-13. Annabelle Gordon/REUTERSThe Defense Department and Hegseth “stand behind GEN LaNeve’s leadership as Acting Chief of Staff of the Army,” Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell told the Daily Beast in a statement. “Welcome back, Mr. President,” LaNeve said, besides several other soldiers in the Eighth Army in South Korea.