Under Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the Biden-appointed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General CQ Brown, along with several other high-ranking female officers, may soon face removal from their positions, according to reports circulating within Capitol Hill. These possible changes signal a deeper shift in the military, as Hegseth works to realign leadership with a more traditional, warfighting-focused approach.
The informal list of officials under scrutiny includes General Brown, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Lieutenant Generals Jennifer Short and Laura Potter, with the potential for other senior officers to follow. This development has caused concern among lawmakers and defense experts, with some questioning how these leadership changes may impact military readiness and morale. While the list has not yet been finalized, its circulation suggests that significant changes could be imminent.
At the heart of this movement is the growing dissatisfaction with the focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the military, a priority under the Biden administration. Many Republican lawmakers, along with Hegseth, have been vocal in their opposition to DEI initiatives, arguing that they detract from the core mission of the military: combat readiness. The push to remove senior officers with strong ties to DEI programs reflects a broader effort to refocus military leadership on traditional priorities, such as warfighting and operational effectiveness.
Hegseth’s stance has been clear. In a November interview, he called for the removal of any officer who prioritized “woke” initiatives over the military’s primary mission. “Either you’re in for warfighting, and that’s it. That’s the only litmus test we care about,” he emphasized. In his 2024 book, The War on Warriors, he further criticized the promotion of officers based on diversity rather than battlefield competence.
This shake-up comes as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has mandated a proposed 8% annual budget cut over the next five years, potentially leading to significant layoffs within the Pentagon’s civilian workforce. The move has sparked debate over its potential consequences for military readiness and national security.
While some Democrats have been left out of the loop on these developments, the reshuffling of military leadership under the Trump administration (should he return to office) could represent a major turning point for the nation’s defense strategy. As the military faces increased pressure to perform under limited resources, the focus is likely to shift back toward core warfighting capabilities rather than social or political agendas. The looming changes within the Pentagon are sure to continue to stir discussions on the proper direction for the armed forces in an era of increasing global challenges.