President Donald Trump has dismissed General CQ Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the highest-ranking military officer in the United States, in a significant overhaul of military leadership.
In a social media post, Trump expressed gratitude to General Charles “CQ” Brown for his more than 40 years of dedicated service, including his tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also announced the replacement of five other senior military officials.
General Brown was notable for being the second African American to hold this prestigious position, which provides counsel to both the President and the Secretary of Defense on matters of national security.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had previously criticized General Brown, suggesting his dismissal was warranted due to an emphasis on “woke” initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the armed forces.
On the same day, Hegseth revealed the termination of two additional high-ranking officers: Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Jim Slife.
Admiral Franchetti made history as the first woman to command the Navy.
All three officers removed on this occasion were appointed during the administration of former President Joe Biden.
Hegseth stated, “Under President Trump, we are implementing new leadership that will prioritize our military’s fundamental mission of deterrence, combat readiness, and victory in warfare.”
Trump announced his intention to nominate Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine, a seasoned F-16 pilot and former CIA associate director for military affairs, as the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
General Brown visited troops stationed at the U.S. southern border on Friday, approximately two hours prior to President Trump’s announcement regarding his departure.
Speculation had been prevalent throughout the week concerning the possibility of the president seeking to dismiss General Brown, whose term is scheduled to conclude in 2027.
General Brown gained significant attention in 2020 when he addressed issues of race in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death.
He shared a video message with the Air Force, articulating the challenges he faced as one of the few Black individuals in his unit and the scrutiny he encountered regarding his qualifications.
Colin Powell was the inaugural Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, serving from 1989 to 1993.
One of President Trump’s initial actions following his inauguration last month was to terminate the appointment of the first female commandant of the Coast Guard, citing an “excessive focus” on diversity.
In November, prior to his confirmation, Hegseth expressed on a podcast that the military faced numerous issues, particularly regarding diversity initiatives, which he believed the Trump administration should “course correct.”
“To begin with, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs must be dismissed,” Hegseth stated while outlining the actions he thought Trump should undertake.
Additionally, the Pentagon announced on Friday its decision to reduce its budget and terminate the employment of 5,400 probationary staff members in the coming week.
Simultaneously, a federal court in Maryland issued a temporary injunction against Trump’s efforts to enforce bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
US District Judge Adam Abelson indicated that Trump’s directives likely infringe upon free-speech rights as protected by the US Constitution.