Trump Fires Joint Chiefs Chairman, Navy Head in Leadership Purge
In a dramatic move late Friday, President Donald Trump dismissed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General CQ Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, General Jim Slife.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a statement confirming Trump’s decision and revealed that retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, who recently joined the venture capital firm Shield Capital, will be nominated as the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. “General Caine embodies the warfighter ethos and is exactly the leader we need to meet the moment,” Hegseth said. “I look forward to working with him.”
At this time, no replacements have been announced for Admiral Franchetti or General Slife. Hegseth mentioned that he is actively seeking nominations to fill these key positions. He also praised Franchetti and Slife for their distinguished careers, expressing gratitude for their dedication to the country.
Rumors of General Brown’s uncertain future had circulated in Washington since Trump’s reelection. Brown, the second Black chairman and the first Black officer to serve as a service chief, had faced criticism from some quarters due to his stance on diversity initiatives.
In his statement, Hegseth acknowledged Brown’s “distinguished service” over four decades and described him as a “thoughtful adviser.” This tone stood in contrast to Hegseth’s earlier comments in his book, The War on Warriors, where he had criticized Brown’s leadership. “You think CQ Brown will think intuitively about external threats and internal readiness?” Hegseth had written, suggesting Brown’s promotions were politically motivated.
General Brown, a decorated F-16 pilot, led numerous top roles in the military, including directing the air campaign against ISIS as Deputy Chief of U.S. Central Command. He was also instrumental in preparing the Air Force for potential conflict with China. Despite public discussions of his ouster, his position had seemed secure after he met with President-elect Trump at the Army-Navy game last December.
However, recent circulation of a list of generals under scrutiny, including Brown and Franchetti, signaled the growing tensions surrounding these high-profile dismissals. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern, with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman, Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, urging for greater transparency regarding the removals. Reed called the firings “politically charged” and warned that they could undermine the professionalism of the U.S. military.
“This appears to be part of a broader, premeditated campaign by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to purge talented officers for politically charged reasons,” Reed said. “Such actions threaten to erode the trust and professionalism that our service members require to achieve their missions.”
The Center for American Progress (CAP), a liberal policy institute, condemned the dismissals as an intentional effort to replace experienced military leaders with Trump loyalists. Rudy de Leon, CAP’s senior fellow and former Deputy Secretary of Defense, expressed disappointment, stating, “Few public servants have more honor, integrity, and courage than the military officials that Trump fired today.”
As the political fallout continues to unfold, questions about the future direction of the Pentagon and its leadership remain uncertain.
