…Gen Haugh was informed of the decision while traveling. Current & fmr ofcls said Gen Haugh’s deputy at the #NSA, Wendy Noble, was also removed from her post, & possibly reassigned to another position at the #Pentagon.

…#Defense Secy #PeteHegseth & #Trump have removed several top officers from their posts including the chair of the #JointChiefs of Staff…; the chief of naval operations [#Navy #CNO]…; & the commandant of the #CoastGuard….

#Trump once again makes clear that he picks senior officials in part because of their nicknames. During his first term, he constantly noted that James Mattis, his defense secretary, was called “Mad Dog” — a nickname that #Mattis actually detested. Today, Trump gushed that his choice to become the next chairman of the #JointChiefs of Staff, Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, is called “Razin Caine.”

“As soon as I heard his name, I said I like that guy,” Trump said.

#idiocracy #military #NationalSecurity

Gen #CQBrown would go on to become the chair of the #JointChiefs of Staff under President #Biden, in an 83-11 Senate vote. For the first time in its history, the #Pentagon was led by two #Black men, with #LloydAustin III, Biden’s #defense secretary.

But in #Trump’s eyes, one Trump adviser said on Saturday, there was no coming back for General Brown after he made his video.

#PeteHegseth, #Trump’s new #defense secy, had questioned whether Gen #CQBrown was selected as the #JointChiefs chair because he was Black & said on a podcast in Nov that he should be fired over the #military’s #diversity efforts.
In his book,Hegseth wrote of Brown’s promotion:“Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt—which on its face seems unfair to CQ. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter.”

And after #Trump returned to power, #Milley’s & #Esper’s portraits were removed from the walls of the #Pentagon.

It is unclear whether Gen #CQBrown will get a portrait of his 1 year & 4 months as the #JointChiefs chair. Trump has not publicly criticized Gen Brown, whom he is seeking to replace w/the retired 3-star Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, another fighter pilot.

During his 2nd admin, #Trump has shown personal animus toward high-ranking #military officers [particularly if they are not white and/or are women], both those on active duty & some who retired years ago.

Trump has suggested that Gen #MarkMilley, his fmr chair of the #JointChiefs who retired in 2023, should be executed for engaging w/his Chinese counterpart during the turmoil surrounding the #Jan6 #insurrection.

Adm. #LisaFranchetti spent roughly half of her 40-year career at sea, rising to command the destroyer U.S.S. Ross, & later a destroyer squadron, two aircraft carrier strike groups, all naval forces in Korea & the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.

Admiral Franchetti became the 33rd chief of naval operations on Nov. 2, 2023, making her the first #woman to have a permanent seat as a member of the #JointChiefs.

#USpol #law #Navy #NationalSecurity #MilitaryPreparedness
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/us/politics/hegseth-navy-lisa-franchetti.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Because Gen Caine is retired, he will have to be called back to active duty for the #Senate to hold hearings on his nomination. Only one retired officer has been called back from retirement to serve as chair: Gen Maxwell Taylor in 1962 by JFK.

It’s unclear if Gen Brown will remain chair until his successor is confirmed by the Senate, or whether Adm. Christopher W. Grady, the vice chair, would serve as the acting #JointChiefs chair.

#Trump has now fired 4 four-star officers in the past month.

Gen Caine retired w/ 3 stars, as a lieutenant general. By #statute, the chair of the #JointChiefs of Staff is supposed to have served as a combatant Commander, as the vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or as the top uniformed officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines or Space Force.
It’s unclear if Gen Caine will need a congressional waiver; a congressional aide said #Trump had some latitude to choose whom he wanted & exceptions could be made for #NationalSecurity.
#USpol #law #military

In all, 6 #Pentagon officials were fired. In addition to #JointChiefs chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., #Trump also fired Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first #woman to lead the #Navy; Gen. James Slife, the vice chief of the #AirForce; & the top #lawyers for the #Army, Navy & #AirForce.

#USpol #law #military #NationalSecurity #MilitaryPreparedness
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/us/politics/trump-fires-cq-brown-pentagon.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

In #Trump’s telling, Dan Caine, the retired AirForce Lt Gen whom he wants to be his next #JointChiefs of Staff chair, made an impression on him when the 2 first met in 2018.

The general told Trump that the Islamic State was not so tough & could be defeated in 1 week, not 2 years as senior advisers predicted…

And at a CPAC meeting last year, Trump said that Gen Caine put on a MAGA hat while meeting w/him in Iraq. (Gen Caine has told aides he has never put on a MAGA hat)

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/21/us/politics/dan-caine-trump-joint-chiefs.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

#JointChiefs chairmen traditionally remain in place as admins change, regardless of the president’s political party. But #Trump White House & #Pentagon officials said they wanted to appoint their own top leaders.

…#Defense Secy #PeteHegseth [drunk rapist] has previously said that General Brown should be fired because of his “woke” focus on #diversity, #equity & #inclusion programs in the #military.