Abdelrahman
Trump Reshuffles Top Military Leadership: CQ Brown Among Those Dismissed
By Rachel Looker, BBC News, Washington
CQ Brown with Pete Hegseth during a visit at the Pentagon alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Getty Images)
In a significant move that has sent ripples through the U.S. military, President Donald Trump has terminated the appointment of CQ Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, marking a dramatic overhaul of the military’s highest ranks.
“I want to extend my gratitude to General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his four decades of dedicated service to our nation,” Trump remarked via social media, announcing that five additional senior military officials are also to be replaced.
General Brown made history as the second African American to occupy this position, providing critical advice on national security to both the president and the Defense Secretary.
Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, previously criticized General Brown’s emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, leading to calls for his dismissal.
On the same day, Hegseth revealed the firings of two more high-ranking officers: Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first female Chief of Naval Operations, and General Jim Slife, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force. All three removed officials were appointed during Joe Biden’s presidency.
Hegseth stated, “With President Trump at the helm, we are implementing fresh leadership that will redirect our military to prioritize its essential mission of deterring, fighting, and winning conflicts.”
To replace General Brown, Trump plans to nominate Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine, an experienced F-16 pilot and former CIA associate director for military affairs. Trump fondly recalled first encountering General Caine in Iraq, noting, “He looked more impressive than any movie star.”
During his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last year, Trump praised the military but mentioned a perceived “wokeness” at senior levels.
Admiral Franchetti, as the first woman to lead the Navy (Getty Images)
General Brown’s dismissal follows his recent visit to troops stationed at the southern U.S. border and comes amid speculation regarding his future, as his term was set to conclude in 2027. He gained attention in 2020 for addressing race relations in the military after the tragic death of George Floyd, sharing a personal video on the pressures he faced as one of few Black officers in his unit.
In 2022, as Air Force Chief of Staff, General Brown co-signed a memorandum that aimed to enhance diversity within the officer ranks, adjusting standards to increase minority representation while modifying the criteria for white candidates. Colin Powell was the trailblazer as the first Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serving from 1989 to 1993.
Trump’s recent actions reflect a broader agenda to address perceived excesses in diversity programs, including the recent firing of the Coast Guard’s first female commandant for what the administration described as an “overemphasis” on diversity.
General Jim Slife has been dismissed as well (US Air Force)
Ahead of his confirmation, Hegseth had expressed concerns about issues within the military, particularly regarding diversity programs. He had underscored the necessity of dismissing the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.
Additionally, the Pentagon announced plans to reduce its budget and let go of approximately 5,400 probationary employees next week. Concurrently, a federal court in Maryland issued a temporary block against Trump’s prohibition of diversity initiatives, with District Judge Adam Abelson ruling that these directives might infringe upon constitutional free-speech rights.
As this situation unfolds, it underscores the tension between military leadership and the administration’s goals, setting the stage for further developments in U.S. military policy and leadership dynamics.
