The President of the United States, Donald Trump, dismissed the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General CQ Brown, along with five other admirals and generals, marking an unprecedented overhaul of US military leadership.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump announced his intention to nominate former Lieutenant General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine to replace General Brown, breaking tradition by selecting someone from retirement for the first time to take on the top military role.
The president will also appoint a new head for the US Navy, a position currently occupied by Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead a military service, as well as the vice chief of staff for the Air Force, according to the Pentagon.
Additionally, he is expected to eliminate the judge advocates general for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, which are essential roles responsible for upholding military justice.
Although the civilian leadership of the Pentagon changes with each administration, uniformed members of the US armed forces are supposed to remain apolitical, executing the policies of both Democratic and Republican administrations.
Gen Brown, who is the second black officer to serve as the president’s chief military advisor, was in the midst of a four-year term set to conclude in September 2027.
A US official noted that Gen Brown was removed immediately, prior to the Senate’s confirmation of his successor.
Reuters first reported in November that the incoming Trump administration intended to enact a significant shake-up within the upper echelons of the military, which included the termination of Gen Brown.
Democratic leaders criticized Mr. Trump’s actions, with Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, stating, “Firing uniformed leaders as a type of political loyalty test, or for reasons relating to diversity and gender that have nothing to do with performance, erodes the trust and professionalism that our service members require to achieve their missions.”
Representative Seth Moulton, a Democrat from Massachusetts, described the firings as “un-American, unpatriotic, and dangerous for our troops and our national security,” asserting, “This is the definition of politicizing our military.”
During last year’s presidential campaign, Mr. Trump expressed his desire to dismiss “woke” generals and those involved in the challenging 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, he did not provide an explanation for his decision to replace General Brown yesterday.
“I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Mr. Trump stated.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously been doubtful about Gen Brown’s leadership before taking control of the Pentagon, where he aims to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the military.
In his latest book, Mr. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and military veteran, questioned whether Brown would have attained his position if he were not black, stating, “Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt – which on its face seems unfair to CQ. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter,” in his 2024 book ‘The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.’
Gen Brown, a former fighter pilot with commands in the Middle East and Asia, publicly shared his experiences with discrimination in the military in an emotional video after the tragic killing of George Floyd, which ignited nationwide calls for racial justice.
He was on official travel when Mr. Trump announced his decision. Just hours before the announcement, Gen Brown’s official X account featured images of him engaging with troops stationed at the US-Mexico border, deployed in support of Mr. Trump’s efforts against illegal immigration.
“Border Security has always been critical to the defense of our homeland. As we navigate unprecedented security challenges… we will ensure our troops at the border have everything they need,” Gen Brown posted.
Admiral Franchetti made history as the first woman to command the US Navy.
Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti was nominated by Joe Biden in 2023.
Her nomination in 2023 by then-President Joe Biden came unexpectedly, as Pentagon officials had largely anticipated that Admiral Samuel Paparo, who was then leading the navy in the Pacific, would receive the nomination.
Instead, Admiral Paparo was promoted to lead the US military’s Indo-Pacific Command.
On his first day in office, Mr. Trump dismissed Admiral Linda Fagan, the head of the US Coast Guard, who was its first female commanding officer.
Last month, Mr. Trump’s Pentagon targeted Mark Milley, a retired Army general and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, by revoking his security clearance and personal security detail. Additionally, his portrait was taken down from the Pentagon walls.
Mr. Milley, who served as the top US military officer during part of Mr. Trump’s first term, became a vocal critic after retiring as a four-star general in 2023 during Mr. Biden’s administration, and has since faced death threats.
It remains unclear who the Trump administration will choose to be the new judge advocates general for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. In his 2024 book, Mr. Hegseth was very critical of military lawyers, arguing that most “spend more time prosecuting our troops than putting away bad guys.”
