Trump and Hegseth’s Reckless Purge of Military Leadership Endangers National Security
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 21, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Common Defense, the nation’s largest grassroots organization of veterans, condemns Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s abrupt and politically motivated firing of General Charles Q. Brown Jr., the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. This reckless move is clearly part of a larger plan to gut military and government leadership and remake it in Trump’s image—compromising national security in favor of political loyalty.
“The firing of General Brown isn’t about ‘warfighting.’ It’s about Trump and his cronies installing yes-men who will bow to his political agenda,” said Jacob Thomas, US Air Force veteran and Common Defense Communications Director. “This is a direct attack on the independence of our armed forces, it’s dangerous, and harms our national security.”
By removing Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General James Slife, in addition to General Brown—a decorated fighter pilot and the second African American to hold this position—Trump and Hegseth are sending a clear message: they want a military that serves them, not the Constitution. They are systematically dismantling a professional, apolitical force and replacing it with MAGA loyalists who will do Trump’s bidding, even at the expense of military readiness and democracy itself.
Hegseth has made no secret of his agenda, openly questioning GEN Brown’s qualifications in his most recent book, and calling for purges of military leaders who support diversity, equity, and inclusion—policies that strengthen our armed forces by ensuring we have the best talent, regardless of race or background. This is not about making the military “stronger.” It’s about politicizing the ranks and creating an armed force willing to bend the knee to a president who fancies himself a king so that he can use the military against the American people.
We’ve seen this playbook before. Trump demanded loyalty from the military in 2020 when he wanted troops to crack down on peaceful protesters. Now, by starting off his second term by firing not only these senior leaders, but also the Judge Advocate Generals of each military branch, he’s laying the groundwork for something even more extreme.
Veterans swore an oath to defend the Constitution—not a political party, not a dictator-in-waiting. Common Defense will not stand by while Trump and Hegseth attempt to remake the military in their own corrupt image.
We call on Congress, military leaders, and every American who cares about democracy to speak out and stand against this dangerous coup in the making. America was founded because we rejected kings, understanding that We The People make our own destiny and are stronger together. We refuse to let an authoritarian like Trump destroy this Republic through these types of dictatorial actions.
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Common Defense Civic Engagement is a grassroots, veteran-led organization (501c4) that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.