Pentagon purge: Trump fired Chairman of Joint Chiefs, Navy Chief, and other top brass

In a bold and unprecedented move, President Donald Trump dismissed six high-ranking Pentagon officials on Friday night, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. The decision, which sent shockwaves through Washington, marks one of the most significant shake-ups in military leadership in recent history.

Brown, who had served only two-and-a-half years of his four-year term, was unexpectedly removed, breaking with the tradition that Joint Chiefs Chairmen typically retain their posts across presidential transitions. Critics immediately accused Trump of politicizing the military, with Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island stating:

"A professional, apolitical military that remains subordinate to civilian government and upholds the Constitution rather than any political party is essential to the survival of our democracy."

A Highly Unusual Replacement: Retired Lt. Gen. Dan "Razin" Cain

To fill the vacancy, Trump has nominated retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan "Razin" Cain, an unconventional pick since Cain retired from active duty and lacks a four-star rank. If confirmed, Cain will be the first three-star general in history to chair the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Cain, a Virginia Military Institute graduate and former F-16 fighter pilot, boasts 150 combat hours and two Iraq deployments. From 2021 to 2024, he served as the CIA’s associate director for military affairs, working on classified operations. Trump's announcement on Truth Social praised Cain's decisive role in the fight against ISIS:

"During my first term, Razin was instrumental in the complete annihilation of the ISIS caliphate. It was done in record-setting time—a matter of weeks. Many so-called military ‘geniuses’ said it would take years to defeat ISIS. General Cain, on the other hand, said it could be done quickly, and he delivered."

Trump also took a swipe at President Joe Biden for previously overlooking Cain for promotion, writing:

"Despite being highly qualified and respected, General Cain was passed over for the Joint Chiefs of Staff by Sleepy Joe Biden. But not anymore!"

A Pentagon Purge: Navy and Air Force Leaders Also Dismissed

Brown was just one of six senior military officials removed on Friday night. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife were also ousted, along with the judge advocates general of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Franchetti, who had been appointed by Biden as the first female Chief of Naval Operations, was removed without explanation, cutting short her historic tenure.

Targeting Woke Leadership and Military Lawyers

The dismissal of the top legal officers of the Army, Navy, and Air Force aligns with Hegseth’s ongoing criticism of military lawyers. During his Senate confirmation, Hegseth accused military legal advisors of placing personal career interests over combat effectiveness, stating:

"Military lawyers put their own priorities ahead of the warfighters—pursuing promotions and medals instead of supporting those making tough calls on the front lines."

Trump and Hegseth have vowed to purge military leaders who prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) over combat readiness. Hegseth has long criticized Brown for, in his words, “playing the race card” throughout his career. Notably, in 2020, Trump himself nominated Brown as Air Force Chief of Staff, celebrating him as the first Black military service chief in U.S. history.

In November, Hegseth openly called for Brown’s removal, stating:

"First, you've got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. But any general or admiral involved in DEI woke nonsense has got to go. Either you are in for warfighting, or you're out. That’s the only litmus test."

Hegseth also took aim at Franchetti’s appointment, sarcastically remarking in his book War on Warriors:

"If naval operations suffer, at least we have another first! The first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff—hooray."

Speaking at a Pentagon town hall, Hegseth denounced diversity initiatives, asserting that they divide rather than unify the military. He went on to challenge one of the military’s long-standing slogans:

"The single dumbest phrase in military history is ‘our diversity is our strength’."

With these dramatic moves, the Trump administration is making it clear: the Pentagon will undergo a radical transformation. Whether these changes strengthen or weaken U.S. military effectiveness remains to be seen.