Feb 22, 2025 Story by: Editor
President Donald Trump has removed Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. from his position as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and has nominated a retired three-star general to take over as the nation’s top military leader.
Trump announced Brown’s dismissal on Friday through a post on TruthSocial, where he expressed gratitude for Brown’s “over 40 years of service to our country,” describing him as a “fine gentleman and an outstanding leader.”
General Charles Q. Brown Jr., a former combat pilot, was nominated by President Joe Biden as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2023. He made history as the second African American to hold this position. The first was General Colin Powell, who served as Chairman from 1989 to 1993.
Trump has chosen Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as his nominee to replace Brown.
“General Caine is an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with significant interagency and special operations experience,” Trump wrote. He also credited Caine for playing a crucial role in “the complete annihilation of the ISIS caliphate.”
Brown’s Dismissal Was Anticipated
Speculation over Brown’s removal grew after the confirmation of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Before assuming his role, Hegseth had openly called for Brown’s dismissal, accusing him of supporting a “woke” agenda that, in his view, weakened military readiness.
“First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs,” Hegseth stated during an appearance on the Shawn Ryan Show in November.
Before leading the Joint Chiefs, Brown advocated for streamlining military bureaucracy and increasing recruitment efforts by attracting more diverse candidates.
In 2020, while awaiting confirmation as Air Force chief of staff, Brown gained national attention for a heartfelt video message on race, which he posted as the country grappled with the police killing of George Floyd.
Explaining his decision to share the video, Brown told NPR in an interview later that year: “It was my own personal experiences but thinking about our two sons and their experiences, [is] actually what got me to do it.”
Following Trump’s announcement, Hegseth issued a statement acknowledging Brown’s “four decades of honorable service,” stating that he had come to know him “as a thoughtful adviser.”
Other High-Ranking Officials Also Replaced
Alongside Brown’s dismissal, Hegseth announced that several other top military officials would also be replaced. Among them is Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve as Chief of Naval Operations, as well as Gen. James Slife, the Air Force’s vice chief of staff.
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, condemned the firings, expressing deep concern over their implications.
“This appears to be part of a broader, premeditated campaign by President Trump and Secretary Hegseth to purge talented officers for politically charged reasons, which would undermine the professionalism of our military and send a chilling message through the ranks,” Reed said in a statement.
Pentagon Undergoes Major Restructuring
The latest changes in military leadership come amid a larger restructuring effort at the Pentagon, as the Trump administration seeks to overhaul the federal workforce and reduce government spending.
On Friday, the Pentagon announced plans to dismiss approximately 5,400 probationary workers starting next week.
“We anticipate reducing the Department’s civilian workforce by 5-8% to produce efficiencies and refocus the Department on the President’s priorities and restoring readiness in the force,” said Darin Selnick, the acting Defense undersecretary for personnel and readiness.
In addition, the Pentagon has proposed an 8% budget cut each year for the next five years, amounting to approximately $50 billion annually. Source: NPR
