In a historic and unprecedented move, the Trump administration on Friday night fired the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking officer in the Navy, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Attorneys General of three US branches of the armed forces. The Air & Space Forces Magazine speaks bluntly of a “purge” in its headline. (Purge).
Officers in such top positions have unblemished careers, require Senate approval for their appointment and usually serve for four years. The magazine military.com as a “historic and unprecedented step”.
The 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General CQ Brown Jr, the highest ranking US military officer and principal military advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council, was dismissed by US President Donald Trump on Friday evening via a social media post. General Brown had held the post since October 1, 2023.
Admiral Lisa Marie Franchetti, the Chief of Naval Operations and thus the highest-ranking officer and Chief of Staff of the US Navy, was also relieved of her post. She had officially held the position since November 2, 2023 and had been acting since August 14, 2023.
The Deputy Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, General James C. Slife (-> General James C. Slife on the future of the Air Force), who had held this position since December 19, 2023, was also dismissed.
In addition, three attorneys general from the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG) had to vacate their posts. The JAG is responsible for military justice and covers areas such as administrative law, public procurement, civil and military personnel law, the law of war, international relations and environmental law. It is also responsible for the conduct of courts martial.
Just a few hours after taking office on January 20, Trump fired the first high-ranking uniformed leader, Coast Guard Admiral Linda L. Fagan.
Whether the traditionally bipartisan Armed Services Committees of the US Congress will raise objections remains unclear. The US Senate must confirm all nominations for general and flag officer posts after hearings.
Senator Jack Reed (Democrat, Rhode Island), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed his concern: “I am troubled by the nature of these dismissals. This appears to be part of a broader, premeditated campaign by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth (notes: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth) to dismiss talented officers for politically motivated reasons. This undermines the professionalism of our military and sends a chilling message to the force.”
Reed concluded: “A professional, apolitical military that is subordinate to the civilian government and supports the Constitution, not a political party, is critical to the survival of our democracy.”
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