Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is reportedly going to fire Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Hegseth previously said, “First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs…But any general that was involved – general, admiral, whatever – that was involved in any of the DEI woke shit has got to go. Either you’re in for warfighting, and that’s it. That’s the only litmus test we care about.”
Daily Caller reported:
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is reportedly set to can a top general in the Air Force known for his liberal policies, two U.S. officials told CNN Thursday.
Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is reportedly on a list of suggested dismissals provided to congress, according to CNN. The move comes as Trump seeks to make good on his campaign promise to root out “wokeness” in the military.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the highest-ranking military officer in the entire Armed Forces, also serving as a senior military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council. Hegseth has long advocated for firing “woke” generals, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff specifically.
“First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs,” Hegseth said on the Shawn Ryan Show in November 2024. “But any general that was involved – general, admiral, whatever – that was involved in any of the DEI woke shit has got to go. Either you’re in for warfighting, and that’s it. That’s the only litmus test we care about.”
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti also might be fired.
CNN reported:
The list also includes the current Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve in the role. Franchetti is also the first woman ever to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If she were fired, it would leave the military without a female four-star general for the first time in years. In his most recent book, Hegseth suggested that Franchetti was only hired because she is a woman.
“If naval operations suffer, at least we can hold our heads high. Because at least we have another first! The first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — hooray,” Hegseth wrote in his 2024 book, “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.”
A spokesperson for Franchetti declined to comment.
The list circulating on Capitol Hill also notes potential promotions and possible replacements for Brown, including Adm. Samuel Paparo, who currently leads US Indo Pacific command. Gen. Erik Kurilla, who currently leads US Central Command, is also a contender to replace Brown if he is fired, officials said.
