Washington (Agencies): In a sweeping overhaul of U.S. military leadership, President Donald Trump has dismissed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr., Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Jim Slife. The firings, announced late Friday, mark one of the most significant shake-ups in the Department of Defense in recent history.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the removals, stating that Trump intends to nominate retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Caine, who recently joined the venture capital firm Shield Capital, is expected to bring a fresh perspective, but his nomination will require Senate approval.
Adm. Franchetti, the first woman to serve as the Navy’s top officer, and Gen. Slife, a key Air Force leader, were also relieved of their positions, though no immediate replacements have been named. Additionally, Hegseth has requested nominations for new judge advocates general for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, signaling a broader leadership shake-up within the military.
The dismissals have drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers. Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the move “a premeditated purge of talented officers for politically charged reasons.” He warned that such actions could undermine military professionalism and morale.
Critics argue that Brown’s removal, in particular, may be linked to his past support for diversity initiatives, which had drawn criticism from some conservative circles. Brown, the second Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the first Black officer to serve as a service chief, was widely respected in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill.
The firings have sparked concerns about the politicization of military leadership. The Center for American Progress condemned the move, calling it a “deliberate effort to target senior professional military officers” and replace them with figures more aligned with Trump’s views.
With Senate confirmation hearings for Caine and other potential nominees expected in the coming weeks, the shake-up is likely to remain a major political flashpoint as lawmakers scrutinize the administration’s handling of military leadership.