Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed several senior military leaders, including high-ranking generals and admirals, in a move that has intensified concerns about instability within the Pentagon.
The firings, reported by The Hill on May 11, 2025, are part of Hegseth’s broader effort to reshape the Department of Defense (DoD) in alignment with President Donald Trump’s priorities, but they have sparked accusations of politicization and dysfunction.
The latest dismissals include prominent figures such as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown Jr., and the Navy’s top officer, Admiral Lisa Franchetti.
These actions follow a pattern of personnel changes since Hegseth took office in January 2025, with nearly a dozen senior military leaders removed.
Notably, many of those fired are women or people of color, raising concerns about the criteria used for these decisions.
For instance, Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, the U.S. military representative to NATO, was removed in April 2025, with the Pentagon citing a “loss of confidence in her ability to lead.”
Hegseth has also targeted the military’s top legal officers, firing the judge advocates general for the Army, Navy, and Air Force in February 2025.
He argued that these lawyers were not “well-suited” to provide recommendations for lawful orders, aligning with his push for a “warrior ethos” that critics say prioritizes aggression over established legal frameworks.
Motivations and Controversy
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, has framed these firings as necessary to eliminate “woke” policies, particularly diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which he and Trump argue undermine military readiness.
In a May 5, 2025, memo, Hegseth ordered a 20% reduction in four-star officers and a 10% cut in general-level officers, describing the move as a way to streamline a bloated bureaucracy.
He claimed the U.S. military, with 38 four-star officers for 2.1 million service members, is top-heavy compared to World War II, when just 17 top generals led 12 million troops.
However, critics, including Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, argue that these cuts lack clear justification and risk crippling military leadership.
“Tough personnel decisions should be based on facts and analysis, not arbitrary percentages,” Reed said. Retired Army Colonel Jeff McCausland echoed this sentiment, questioning whether the reductions are an attempt to politicize the military by prioritizing loyalty to Trump over expertise.
Hegseth’s tenure has also been marred by internal strife. In April 2025, three senior aides—Dan Caldwell, Darin Selnick, and Colin Carroll—were fired over allegations of leaking sensitive information, though they denied the charges.
The investigation, initiated by Hegseth’s then-chief of staff Joe Kasper, who later resigned, fueled accusations of paranoia and mismanagement.
A former Pentagon spokesperson, John Ullyot, described the department as in a “full-blown meltdown,” with infighting and distrust undermining operations.
Hegseth himself has faced scrutiny for mishandling sensitive information.
In March 2025, he shared details of U.S. military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen via Signal group chats, one of which included a journalist and another his wife, brother, and lawyer.
These incidents raised alarms about the security of classified communications, prompting calls for his resignation from Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and DNC Chair Ken Martin.
Despite the controversies, President Trump and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt have staunchly defended Hegseth.
On April 22, 2025, Leavitt called reports of his potential replacement “fake news,” while Trump praised Hegseth’s leadership, citing successful military operations against the Houthis. “Pete’s doing a great job,” Trump said.
