Corker reported critical of Secretary of State Tillerson

From a Politico article:

Sen. Bob Corker, having already turned on the president, has a new target for his frustration: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The Tennessee Republican and Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman has voiced concerns about Tillerson’s management of the State Department and his still-fuzzy plans to restructure it. At a Senate hearing earlier this week, Corker agreed with several criticisms of Tillerson and his team expressed by Democrats, adding that lawmakers need to be “much more focused on holding them accountable.”

Tillerson’s proposed cuts to the State Department’s staff and budget have drawn growing bipartisan fire from Capitol Hill for months. But Corker’s criticism stands out.

Until recently, Corker has been a steadfast ally of Tillerson, whose nomination he championed and whom he has described as one of the adults around Trump who “separate our country from chaos.” In October, Corker defended Tillerson against what he called Trump’s efforts to “castrat[e]” his secretary of state.

Corker has not gone after Tillerson as harshly as Trump, whom the senator has publicly lambasted since since announcing in September that he will not seek re-election.

…An aide to Corker dismissed the notion that he’s unhappy with Tillerson.

“While Sen. Corker is obviously concerned about the pace of reorganization efforts at the State Department, any notion that he is souring on Secretary Tillerson is way off base. He still has full confidence in the secretary,” said Todd Womack, Corker’s chief of staff.

Asked about the relationship, Tillerson aide R.C. Hammond said, “Secretary Tillerson has enormous respect for Sen. Corker and values his counsel.”