Over 20 generals, admirals, and civilian defense leaders have been dismissed or departed from their roles since Pete Hegseth was appointed as defense secretary during the second Trump administration. Among those affected are some of the most highly decorated leaders in the military, including top officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force, as well as key unit leaders. Additionally, the leading civilian figures in the Army and Navy have also been compelled to leave or resigned.
Focus on Diversity and Promotions
Before his appointment, Hegseth criticized military officers for concentrating too much on diversity initiatives and not enough on supporting frontline service members. This stance was evident in his nomination acceptance, where he advocated for removing officers involved in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. The Trump administration pushed out top female and Black officers, and such officers have reportedly been disproportionately removed from promotion lists, as a source informed CBS News. Currently, there are no active four-star women generals or admirals.
High-Profile Ousters and Resignations
Suspected media leaks have also led to some dismissals, such as with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who resigned after clashing with Hegseth. Driscoll expressed concerns over the removal of generals spearheading transformative efforts within the Army. This article lists significant military and civilian leaders who departed during Hegseth’s tenure:
- General Charles Q. Brown, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was fired abruptly after 16 months. Trump replaced him with Gen. Dan Caine.
- Admiral Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations, was relieved on the same day as Brown without explanation.
- General James Slife, Air Force vice chief of staff, was pushed out following Brown’s departure.
- General Randy George, Army chief of staff, was asked to retire in April.
- General David Allvin, Air Force chief of staff, retired early last November without specific reasons shared.
- Lieutenant General Joseph B. Berger III, Army JAG, and Lieutenant General Charles Plummer, Air Force JAG, were terminated as part of Hegseth’s overhaul of military legal leadership.
- Admiral Alvin Holsey, head of U.S. Southern Command, retired shortly after promotion.
- General Christopher Donahue, head of U.S. Army in Europe and Africa, was forced into early retirement.
- General Timothy Haugh, NSA director, and head of U.S. Cyber Command, was fired in April.
- Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, was ousted following operational assessments leaks.
- Other significant military departures include Lieutenant General Jennifer Short, Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore, Rear Admiral Milton Sands, General David Hodne, and Major General William Green.
Civilian Leaders Affected
Key civilian leaders have also departed, including:
- John Phelan, Navy secretary, left in April after administration conflicts over shipbuilding.
- Dan Driscoll resigned as Army secretary due to friction with Hegseth over modernization plans.
- Joe Kasper, early chief of staff, was reassigned amidst information leaks.
- Other aides such as Colin Carroll, Dan Caldwell, and Darin Selnick faced dismissal related to a leak investigation.
- John Ullyot, Pentagon spokesman, departed after opposing DEI initiatives, though his exit followed controversy.