President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed Air Force General CQ Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with five other admirals and generals in a historic overhaul of U.S. military leadership.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced plans to nominate retired Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine as Brown’s successor. Caine, a former F-16 fighter pilot, previously served as associate director of military affairs at the CIA until late last year.
The Pentagon confirmed Trump will also replace Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead a military service as head of the U.S. Navy, along with the Air Force vice chief of staff and the judge advocates general for the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
This sweeping change signals a turbulent period for the Pentagon, which was already bracing for mass civilian staff firings, a significant budget overhaul, and shifts in military deployments under Trump’s renewed “America First” foreign policy.
While changes in Pentagon civilian leadership are typical between administrations, the uniformed military is traditionally apolitical, serving under both Democratic and Republican presidents.
General Brown, only the second Black officer to serve as the nation’s top military adviser, was expected to serve a full four-year term ending in September 2027. However, a U.S. official confirmed Brown was relieved of duty immediately, even before the Senate could confirm his replacement.
Reuters previously reported in November that the incoming Trump administration was planning an extensive shake-up of military leadership, including Brown’s removal. Throughout his campaign, Trump criticized “woke” generals and those involved in the controversial 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal. He offered no detailed explanation for Brown’s dismissal on Friday.
“I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his 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 posted.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who had reservations about Brown, now leads the Pentagon with plans to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the military.
In his 2024 book The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, Hegseth questioned whether Brown’s race influenced his appointment.
“Was it because of his skin colour? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt — which on its face seems unfair to CQ. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter,” Hegseth wrote.
A seasoned fighter pilot with command experience in the Middle East and Asia, Brown has spoken publicly about facing discrimination in the military. In 2020, following George Floyd’s killing, he posted an emotional video reflecting on those experiences.
At the time of Trump’s announcement, Brown was on official travel. Just hours before, his official X account shared images of him meeting troops at the U.S.-Mexico border, where they are supporting 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 posted.
A spokesperson for Brown has not yet commented.
Women Leaders Removed
Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy, was also dismissed. Her 2023 nomination by President Joe Biden surprised many, as officials had expected Admiral Samuel Paparo to receive the post. Instead, Paparo was promoted to lead the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
On his first day back in office, Trump also fired Admiral Linda Fagan, the U.S. Coast Guard’s first female commanding officer.
Last month, Trump’s Pentagon revoked the security clearance and personal security detail of retired Army General Mark Milley, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His portrait was also removed from Pentagon walls.
Milley, who served under Trump during his first term, became a vocal critic after retiring in 2023 under Biden’s administration. He has since faced death threats.
