The U.S. military has removed Col. Susannah Meyers from her position as commander of Pituffik Space Base in Greenland after she sent an email distancing the base from Vice President JD Vance's criticism of Denmark.
The Space Operations Command cited a "loss of confidence in her ability to lead" as the reason for Meyers' dismissal. Col. Shawn Lee, previously stationed in Alaska, will take over command of the Arctic base.
The controversy began after Vance's March 28 visit to Pituffik, where he sharply criticized Denmark's oversight of Greenland, claiming they had "not done a good job" and "underinvested" in the territory's security. Days later, Meyers sent an email to base personnel stating that Vance's comments were "not reflective of Pituffik Space Base."
Pentagon Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the firing was linked to Meyers' email, stating that "actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump's agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense."
The incident comes amid ongoing tension over the Trump administration's expressed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark. Recent polls show 85% of Greenlanders oppose joining the United States, while Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has directly stated "you can't annex other countries."
Meyers had only assumed command of the strategic Arctic installation in July 2023. The Space Force statement on her removal emphasized that "commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties."
The firing appears to be part of a broader pattern of military leadership changes under the Trump administration, which has recently removed several high-ranking officers including the NSA director and Joint Chiefs Chairman.