Washington: President Donald Trump has dismissed Air Force General C.Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a sweeping overhaul of U.S. military leadership that also saw the removal of five other top-ranking admirals and generals. The move, announced on Friday, marks an unprecedented shake-up at the Pentagon and signals a shift in military policy under Trump’s administration.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, confirmed his decision and revealed plans to nominate retired Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine as Brown’s successor. This would be the first time in modern U.S. history that a retired officer is pulled back into service to assume the role of the nation’s highest-ranking military officer.
Donald Trump fired the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C. Q. Brown, and pushed out five other admirals and generals in an unprecedented shake-up of US military leadership https://t.co/pVIYFbBC94 pic.twitter.com/AlYQfTKZGE
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 22, 2025
Wider Pentagon Overhaul
The administration’s military restructuring extends beyond Brown’s removal. Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead a branch of the U.S. military as chief of naval operations, will also be replaced. Additionally, Trump has ordered the removal of the Air Force vice chief of staff and the judge advocates general of the Army, Navy, and Air Force—key officials responsible for overseeing military justice.
Trump’s latest move follows his long-standing promise to reshape the Pentagon under his “America First” military strategy. His administration has already initiated mass firings of civilian Pentagon staff, budget restructuring, and shifts in troop deployments.
Although changes in civilian leadership within the Department of Defense are common with new administrations, military officers traditionally remain apolitical, executing policies regardless of which party is in power. Brown, who was serving a four-year term set to conclude in 2027, was relieved immediately, pending Senate confirmation of his successor.
Political Backlash
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers.
“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 servicemembers require to achieve their missions,” said Senator Jack Reed, a Democrat from Rhode Island and the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Representative Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat and former Marine, condemned the firings as “un-American, unpatriotic, and dangerous for our troops and our national security.”
Trump’s Focus on ‘Woke’ Generals
Trump previously criticized military leadership during his re-election campaign, vowing to remove what he called “woke” generals and those he blamed for the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, he did not provide a specific reason for Brown’s removal in his announcement.
“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 wrote.
Defense Secretary’s Skepticism
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and military veteran, has expressed doubts about Brown’s qualifications in the past. In his book The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, Hegseth questioned whether Brown’s appointment was based on merit or race.
“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,” Hegseth wrote.
Brown, a former fighter pilot with extensive command experience in the Middle East and Asia, has spoken openly about racial discrimination in the military. Following the 2020 killing of George Floyd, he released an emotional video sharing his personal experiences.
At the time of his dismissal, Brown was on official travel. Just hours before Trump’s announcement, his official X account posted images of him visiting U.S. troops at the southern border, where military personnel have been assisting in immigration enforcement efforts.
“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,” Brown posted.
Women Military Leaders Ousted
The shake-up also includes the removal of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, who made history as the first female chief of naval operations. Franchetti’s appointment in 2023 by then-President Joe Biden was unexpected, as Pentagon officials had widely anticipated Admiral Samuel Paparo, then head of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, to receive the role. Paparo was later assigned to lead U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
Trump’s administration has already removed other high-ranking female military leaders. On his first day in office, he fired Admiral Linda Fagan, the U.S. Coast Guard’s first female commanding officer.
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Retaliation Against Milley?
Last month, Trump’s Pentagon stripped retired General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, of his personal security detail and security clearance. Milley, who served as the top military officer during Trump’s first term, became one of his most vocal critics after retiring in 2023 under President Biden. His portrait was also removed from the Pentagon’s walls, and he has reportedly faced death threats.
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The Future of Military Leadership
It remains unclear who will replace the judge advocates general for the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Hegseth has previously criticized military lawyers, stating in his book that many “spend more time prosecuting our troops than putting away bad guys.”
With Trump’s rapid changes to the military’s leadership and structure, the Pentagon is entering an uncertain period of transition, with potential implications for military readiness, legal oversight, and broader national security strategy.
