Washington, 22 February 2025 — President Donald Trump dismissed Air Force General C.Q. Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday, marking a sweeping overhaul of U.S. military leadership. Five other admirals and generals were also removed in an unprecedented reshuffling.
Trump announced on Truth Social that retired Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine, a former F-16 pilot and ex-CIA military affairs associate director, would be nominated as Brown’s successor.
The shake-up extends beyond the Joint Chiefs chair. Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead a military service as chief of the U.S. Navy, will also be replaced, along with the Air Force vice chief of staff and the judge advocates general for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, according to the Pentagon.
Pentagon Upheaval
The firings set the stage for a significant shift at the Pentagon, already anticipating widespread civilian staff dismissals, budget restructuring, and military deployment changes under Trump’s renewed “America First” policy.
Although civilian leadership at the Department of Defense shifts with administrations, military officials typically remain apolitical, serving both Democratic and Republican presidents. Brown, only the second Black officer to hold the top military advisory role, had been expected to serve a full four-year term through September 2027. However, a U.S. official confirmed his immediate removal, even before the Senate considers a replacement.
Reuters first reported in November that the Trump administration planned to overhaul top military leadership, including Brown’s dismissal.
Trump’s Stance on ‘Woke’ Generals
During his presidential campaign, Trump frequently criticized what he described as “woke” generals, vowing to remove officers he held responsible for the chaotic 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. However, he did not provide a reason for Brown’s firing in Friday’s announcement.
“I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump wrote.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had questioned Brown’s appointment even before assuming his role. In his 2024 book, The War on Warriors, Hegseth suggested Brown’s selection was influenced by race.
“Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt—which on its face seems unfair to CQ,” Hegseth wrote.
Brown, a former fighter pilot with command experience in the Middle East and Asia, had previously shared his experiences with racial discrimination in a 2020 video following the killing of George Floyd.
At the time of his dismissal, Brown was on official travel. Just hours before Trump’s post, Brown’s X account shared images of him meeting troops at the U.S.-Mexico border, where military personnel have been deployed under Trump’s immigration crackdown.
“Border security has always been critical to the defense of our homeland. As we navigate unprecedented security challenges… we will ensure our troops at the border have everything they need,” Brown wrote.
His spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Women Military Leaders Removed
Franchetti’s removal marks another significant leadership shift. Her 2023 nomination by President Joe Biden had surprised Pentagon officials, who had expected Admiral Samuel Paparo to be chosen. Instead, Paparo was later appointed head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
On his first day in office, Trump also removed Admiral Linda Fagan as head of the U.S. Coast Guard. She had been the first woman to lead the service.
Last month, the Pentagon took further action against retired General Mark Milley, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs under Trump. His security clearance and personal security detail were revoked, and his portrait was removed from Pentagon walls.
Milley, who had publicly criticized Trump after retiring under Biden’s administration, has faced multiple death threats.
