President Donald Trump has fired General Charles "CQ" Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in an unprecedented overhaul of top military leadership. The dismissal was announced Friday evening through a post on Truth Social.
Brown, who became only the second African American to hold the chairman's position, will be replaced by retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan "Razin" Caine, pending Senate confirmation.
The shake-up extended beyond Brown's removal, with five other high-ranking Pentagon officials also being dismissed, including Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Navy's first female leader, and General James Slife, Vice Chief of the Air Force.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated the changes reflect the administration's aim to refocus military priorities. Prior to taking office, Hegseth had criticized military leadership for what he termed a "woke" emphasis on diversity programs.
Brown learned of his dismissal while in El Paso reviewing border operations. Trump's announcement praised Brown as "a fine gentleman and outstanding leader," though offered no specific reason for the change.
The president's choice of Caine as replacement stems from their interaction in Iraq in 2018. Trump has repeatedly praised Caine's approach to defeating ISIS, though some of these claims have faced scrutiny from fact-checkers.
The move breaks with tradition, as Joint Chiefs chairmen typically serve across administrations regardless of political party. Brown's term was set to run until 2027.
The decision has drawn mixed reactions from Congress. While some Republican leaders expressed support, Democratic Senator Jack Reed criticized the removals as a "political loyalty test" that could damage military morale.
Caine's nomination faces potential hurdles, as he lacks certain statutory qualifications typically required for the position, though presidential waivers are possible for national security reasons.