HEGSETH CLAIMS FIRED TOP MILITARY LAWYERS WERE POTENTIAL 'ROADBLOCKS TO TRUMP'S ORDERS'
On the evening of Friday, Feb. 21, President Trump posted on Truth Social, thanking Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr. for decades of service. He then announced that he was nominating retired Lt. Gen. (John) Dan Caine of the U.S. Air Force as the new chairman. However, hours after this announcement it was released that the retired three-star general had been fired.
On Monday, Pete Hegseth has voiced his support for Donald Trump's dismissal of top military lawyers who were seen as "roadblocks" to the Trump Administration's plan to make changes to the armed forces. Learn more about the ongoing development.
Trump Fires a Three-Star Judge
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff CQ Brown and two other military leaders were fired by Trump on Friday. CQ Brown received a farewell speech from Trump, who said, "He is an outstanding, fine gentleman and a leader, and I wish him a great future for himself and for his family."
When asked about the firing Hegseth said,
"It's not about roadblocks to an agenda. It's roadblocks to orders that are given by a commander in chief. Ultimately, I want the best possible lawyers in each service to provide the best possible recommendations, no matter what, to lawful orders that are given. And we didn't think those particular positions were well-suited, and so we're looking for the best."
Trump does have someone in mind for the nomination for the new chairman, replacing the position of CQ Brown. That person is Dan Caine, a retired Air Force Lt. Gen willing to serve Americans again.
Although an abrupt firing of the former chairperson in the military, the replacement process will likely be long.
The position of chairman is a fixed term and is deliberately designed to overlap presidential election cycles, as military officers are nonpartisan and serve the state—not any particular leader. Although chairmen have occasionally been denied a traditional second term, none has ever been fired.
Who Has Been Fired?
On Friday, Trump abruptly fired the chariman, Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr., and Hegseth followed that by firing Navy Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Gen. James Slife.
The lawyers have not been identified by name at this time.
The JAG, Vice Adm. Christopher French retired two months ago and efforts are underway to find his replacement. Additionally, the Army JAG (Lt. Gen. Joseph B. Berger III) and Air Force JAG (Lt. Gen. Charles Plummer) were fired.
New Leaders in the Military
Following the firing of the former military officers, Hegseth released the following statement:
"Most importantly, in our planning, we want lawyers who are not acting solely as the leader but rather acting up as a leader who listens to what we want and need. They simply should not be the roadblocks to anything."
The Judge Advocate General was chosen inside the military, as were many other branch officers, and the same goes for the chairman. What's concerning about Hegseth is that the status quo does not work very well, resulting in recruiting new, fresh blood, as he added.
A Retired Military Official Speaks Out
Don Christensen, a former top prosecutor for the Air Force and a retired military judge, told CNN, "These people and their roles play a significant role in the military moral guide as to what's right and wrong."
"The firing is extremely concerning," Christensen added. As a former military judge, Don Christensen shows sympathy to his other former top military lawyers about the new beginning of Trump's administration.
DEI as a Factor in Firing Military Officers
"Every time the military leaders state that their strength comes from diversity, I throw up more often because I believe it shows how indoctrinated leaders are," Hegseth said.
In this recent round of firings, a common thread has been found as all the military leaders who were recently released are advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The Trump administration has been going after DEI programs, ordering an investigation due to their negative impact on the U.S., and is seeking to replace the programs.
One of the fundamental reasons why Trump is purging top military lawyers and officials is because of their support for DEI programs, which Trump believes is a roadblock in his military administration plan.
Read next:
- Hegseth Directs $50B in Pentagon Budget Cuts to Fund Trump's Military Priorities
- Pete Hegseth Confirmation Hearing Recap: What Vets Should Know
- $100B Military Spending Plan Advanced Amid Concerns of Budget Cuts Threatening Veterans
Sources:
