Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is reportedly set to can a top general in the Air Force known for his liberal policies, two U.S. officials told CNN Thursday.
Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is reportedly on a list of suggested dismissals provided to congress, according to CNN. The move comes as Trump seeks to make good on his campaign promise to root out “wokeness” in the military.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the highest-ranking military officer in the entire Armed Forces, also serving as a senior military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council. Hegseth has long advocated for firing “woke” generals, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff specifically.
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“First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs,” Hegseth said on the Shawn Ryan Show in November 2024. “But any general that was involved – general, admiral, whatever – that was involved in any of the DEI woke shit has got to go. Either you’re in for warfighting, and that’s it. That’s the only litmus test we care about.”
Brown previously expressed his desire to remain at his post even in the wake of Trump assuming office, with Trump even reportedly softening his stance on the general, sources told NBC news in December 2024. Former President Joe Biden nominated Brown as the chairman in 2023, and he was confirmed after a contentious confirmation hearing. Senators questioned his alleged use of racial quotas in hiring decisions for the Air Force.
Under the Biden administration, the DOD had free reign to pursue a myriad of left-wing initiatives, such as LGBT activism, sex change procedures, and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices. Trump and Hegseth swiftly moved in to clear out the programs, refocusing DOD priorities to cultivate a “warrior culture.”
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Indo Pacific command leader Gen. Samuel Paparo and U.S. Central Command in the Middle East commander Gen. Erik Kurilla are reportedly being considered as potential replacements, according to CNN.
Other names on the list included Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who was appointed by Biden as the first female assigned to her role. Franchetti openly advocated and celebrated DEI initiatives in the armed forces.
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First published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.