President Trump has dismissed Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and stated that he will nominate a retired three-star general to fill the position of the nation’s principal military officer.
Trump announced Brown’s removal via a post on TruthSocial, where he expressed gratitude for Brown’s “over 40 years of service to our country” and praised him as a “fine gentleman and an outstanding leader.” Brown, notable as the first Black man to lead a branch of the military as Air Force Chief, was nominated by former President Joe Biden to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs in 2023.
Trump revealed plans to nominate Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine to succeed Brown. He described General Caine as an accomplished pilot and national security expert, noting his significant contributions as a “warfighter” with extensive interagency and special operations experience. Trump credited Caine with playing a key role in the complete annihilation of the ISIS caliphate.
The likelihood of Brown’s departure increased following the confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who advocated for Brown’s removal due to alleged support of a “woke” agenda perceived to undermine military readiness. Hegseth previously stated during an appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show in November that the first step should be to dismiss the chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
Prior to his tenure as Joint Chiefs chairman, Brown advocated for reducing military bureaucracy and enhancing recruitment efforts by attracting a more diverse group of Americans. In 2020, while awaiting confirmation as Air Force Chief of Staff, he received national attention for a heartfelt video message about race, shared during the nationwide response to the police killing of George Floyd. In a subsequent NPR interview, Brown explained that his decision to post the video was fueled by personal experiences and considerations for his two sons.
Following Trump’s announcement, Hegseth issued a statement acknowledging Brown’s “four decades of honorable service,” noting his respect for Brown as a thoughtful adviser. Hegseth also announced plans to replace several additional senior military officials, including Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead the Navy as Chief of Naval Operations, and General James Slife, the Air Force’s vice chief of staff.
Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the leading Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, expressed strong concerns over the dismissals. Reed criticized the moves as part of a strategic effort by Trump and Hegseth to remove capable officers for politically motivated purposes, potentially undermining military professionalism and sending a negative signal throughout the ranks.
These changes come amid a larger reorganization at the Pentagon, part of the Trump administration’s strategy to overhaul the federal workforce and reduce government spending. The Pentagon announced plans to terminate approximately 5,400 probationary employees starting next week. Darin Selnick, the acting Defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness, indicated that the civilian workforce would be reduced by 5-8% to improve efficiencies and refocus on the President’s priorities to restore force readiness.
Additionally, the Pentagon has proposed an 8% budget reduction over the next five years, which amounts to roughly $50 billion annually.