The White House Watch newsletter is offering free access to guide readers on the implications of the 2024 U.S. election for Washington and for international relations.
On Friday, former President Donald Trump removed General CQ Brown from his position as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This decision is part of Trump’s effort to replace military officials who have supported policies related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also dismissed two other senior officials: Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Chief of Naval Operations, and General James Slife, the Air Force Vice-Chief of Staff. These unexpected dismissals are expected to impact the U.S. military significantly, as Trump remains committed to eliminating what he labels as “woke” DEI programs.
General Brown, the second Black individual to hold the military’s top officer position, started what was intended to be a four-year term in October 2023. Trump expressed gratitude for Brown’s more than 40 years of service on his Truth Social Platform, describing him as a gentleman and an exceptional leader, while wishing him a prosperous future.
Trump announced his intention to nominate retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine as Brown’s successor. Typically, presidents select candidates for this role from among service chiefs or combat commanders. Trump first encountered Caine during a visit to Iraq in December 2018, where Caine was serving as the deputy commanding general of the Special Operations Joint Task Force in the campaign against the Islamic State.
During a 2024 speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump commented on Caine’s appearance, stating that he “looked better than any movie actor you could get.” Caine, who recently retired from military service, is currently with Shield Capital as a venture partner and has held various roles, including the CIA’s top adviser on military affairs and an F-16 pilot.
Trump stated that, with Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Caine, and the military, they aim to restore peace through strength, prioritize America first, and rebuild the military. Trump also instructed Hegseth to gather nominations for five additional high-level positions to be disclosed soon.
Hegseth remarked that new leadership is being established to refocus the military on its primary mission of deterring, fighting, and winning wars. As part of this restructuring, he also dismissed the top legal advisors for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
The speculation about Brown’s tenure grew when Hegseth was nominated for the role of defense secretary by Trump. Hegseth had previously suggested on a podcast that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs should be fired, criticizing Brown and others for enforcing “woke” policies.
With a Senate majority, Trump holds significant power to appoint new senior military officers. Roger Wicker, the Republican Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed confidence in Hegseth and Trump to choose a qualified replacement for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized that the President deserves to select trusted military advisors.
Conversely, Senator Jack Reed, a senior Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed concern over the dismissals, suggesting that they might have politically charged motives, potentially undermining military professionalism and creating anxiety among military ranks.
On the same day, the Pentagon announced plans to lay off 5,400 civilian employees starting the following week as part of a broader effort to reduce the workforce by 5 to 8 percent, potentially affecting tens of thousands of employees.