Former President Donald Trump has dismissed General CQ Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as part of a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. military leadership.
Announcing the decision on social media, Trump thanked Gen Brown for his four decades of service. The shake-up also included the removal of five other top military officials. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who previously criticized Brown for prioritizing diversity initiatives, later announced the firings of Chief of Naval Operations Adm Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen Jim Slife—both appointed by former President Joe Biden.
Trump nominated Air Force Lt Gen Dan Caine, a career F-16 pilot and former CIA associate director for military affairs, as the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Hegseth emphasized that the administration aims to refocus the military on its core mission of combat readiness.
Gen Brown, the second black officer to hold the position, had been a vocal advocate for diversity in the military, drawing national attention in 2020 with a personal video on racial challenges. His term was set to expire in 2027.
The Pentagon also announced budget cuts and layoffs of 5,400 probationary employees. Meanwhile, a federal court in Maryland temporarily blocked Trump’s attempts to ban diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, citing potential violations of free speech rights.
