Unprecedented Leadership Change in the U.S. Department of Defense: Top 6 Military Officers Removed from Pentagon

Unprecedented Leadership Change in the U.S. Department of Defense: Top 6 Military Officers Removed from Pentagon

Washington, February 22 – President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed the top U.S. military officer, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, and removed five other senior admirals and generals, marking an unprecedented leadership change in the U.S. Department of Defense.

Trump announced in a post that he would nominate retired Lieutenant General Dan "Ragin" Kine as Brown's successor, which would be the first time a retired military officer is appointed to a top military position. This change includes the removal of U.S. Navy Chief Admiral Lisa Franchetti, who had been the first woman to hold the top military position, and the change of the Air Force's Deputy Chief, the Pentagon said. Additionally, changes will be made to the Judge Advocate Generals (JAGs) of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

This change comes at a time of significant unrest at the Pentagon, where the Trump administration is already preparing to make large-scale changes to military budgets and missions in line with its new "America First" foreign policy. Trump's decision has created political pressure on the military, where typically, although civilian leadership changes, top military officers remain free from political influence.

General C.Q. Brown, who was serving as the second African American officer to be the top military advisor, was supposed to hold his Chairman position until September 2027. However, a U.S. official revealed that Brown was removed before his successor was confirmed.

In November, Reuters had first reported that the Trump administration would bring significant changes to the top levels of the military, including Brown’s removal.