President Donald Trump has dismissed General Charles “CQ” Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with five other top military officials. The decision, announced on Friday, marks a significant shift in the Pentagon’s leadership, with Trump citing the need to refocus on the military’s core mission of combat readiness and deterrence.
Gen Brown, the second Black officer in U.S. history to hold the role, had been appointed by former President Joe Biden. His dismissal aligns with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s earlier remarks criticizing Brown’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in the military. Hegseth, a staunch Trump ally, had previously suggested that the administration needed to “course correct” the military’s priorities.
The removal of Gen Brown was accompanied by the firings of Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Jim Slife, both also appointed by Biden. Adm Franchetti was notably the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy, making her dismissal another controversial move in Trump’s realignment of military leadership.
In his statement on social media, Trump expressed gratitude for Brown’s service but emphasized the administration’s intent to install new leadership that prioritizes military strength over social policies. He nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, a seasoned F-16 pilot and former CIA associate director for military affairs, as the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Gen Brown, who was at the U.S. southern border visiting troops when his dismissal was announced, has been a vocal advocate for racial equity in the military. In 2020, following the death of George Floyd, he released a candid video detailing the challenges he faced as one of the few Black men in senior Air Force leadership.
The shake-up is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to overhaul military leadership and reduce what it sees as unnecessary expenditures. The Pentagon also announced plans to cut its budget and lay off 5,400 probationary employees next week. Meanwhile, a federal court in Maryland temporarily blocked Trump’s attempt to ban DEI programs, setting the stage for legal battles over the administration’s policy shifts.
As Trump continues to reshape military leadership, the implications for U.S. defense strategy and internal cohesion remain uncertain. The latest moves suggest a clear departure from Biden-era priorities, with a renewed focus on traditional military objectives at the expense of diversity and inclusion initiatives.
