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In a surprising move on Friday, Donald Trump dismissed General CQ Brown from his role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The decision, affecting the well-regarded Air Force leader, aligns with Trump’s ongoing effort to remove military officials who back policies on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Alongside General Brown’s dismissal, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also relieved Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations, and General James Slife, Air Force Vice-Chief of Staff, from their duties. These unexpected Friday evening dismissals are likely to cause significant reactions throughout the US military as Trump continues his campaign against what he calls “woke” DEI programs.
General Brown, only the second Black general to have ever held the top military position, began his expected four-year term recently, in October 2023. On Truth Social, Trump acknowledged Brown’s long service, stating, “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.”
Trump proposed retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine as Brown’s replacement. Typically, the role is filled by a service chief or a combat commander. Trump and Caine first met during a visit to Iraq in December 2018, where Caine held the title of deputy commanding general of the Special Operations Joint Task Force amidst efforts against the Islamic State.
Addressing an audience in 2024 at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump shared that he believed Caine “looked better than any movie actor you could get.” Having recently retired, Caine joined Shield Capital as a venture partner and had held roles as the CIA’s top military adviser, an F-16 pilot, and a White House fellow.
On Truth Social, Trump remarked, “Alongside Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Caine and our military will restore peace through strength, put America First, and rebuild our military.” He also noted that Hegseth has been instructed to begin sourcing candidates for five more high-ranking positions, with announcements to follow soon.
Hegseth emphasized their aim to instate leadership that prioritizes the military’s principal mission – to deter, fight, and win wars. He also indicated additional dismissals of top legal officers in the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The future of General Brown first came into question with Trump’s nomination of Hegseth for defense secretary. During a podcast appearance in November, Hegseth, previously a Fox News host, mentioned, “First of all, you gotta fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs,” accusing Brown and others of advancing “woke” initiatives.
With the Senate holding a majority, Trump—in theory—has considerable freedom in appointing new military officers. Roger Wicker, the Republican Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed confidence in Trump and Hegseth to select a competent successor for the crucial position. Senator Lindsey Graham echoed this sentiment on X, stating that it’s essential for any president to choose military advisors they are familiar with and trust.
Conversely, Jack Reed, a senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, voiced concern about these dismissals: “This appears to be part of a broader, premeditated campaign by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to purge talented officers for politically charged reasons, which would undermine the professionalism of our military and send a chilling message through the ranks.”
On the same day, the Pentagon announced plans to lay off 5,400 civilian workers starting next week, as part of an anticipated broader reduction. Senior Pentagon official Darin Selnick shared that the Trump administration plans a workforce reduction in the defense department, targeting cuts between 5 to 8 percent, potentially affecting tens of thousands of employees.
