Daijiworld Media Network- Washington
Washington, Feb 22: In a major shake-up at the Pentagon, US President Donald Trump has removed chairman of the joint chiefs of staff general Charles "CQ" Brown and nominated Air Force Lt Gen Dan Caine as his replacement.
Trump made the announcement late Friday on his truth social platform, praising Brown for his service but without clarifying whether he had resigned or was dismissed.
“I want to thank general CQ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump wrote.
Brown, who took charge in October 2023 after being appointed by former president Joe Biden, was only the second black officer to serve as chairman of the joint chiefs. His tenure had been largely defined by the Ukraine war and escalating conflicts in the Middle East.
The decision is expected to send shockwaves through the Pentagon. Rumours had been swirling for weeks that Trump would remove Brown, whose term was originally set to run until 2027.
On Friday, Brown had been visiting US troops stationed at the southern border, where military forces were deployed following Trump's executive order to curb illegal immigration.
Trump’s defence secretary Pete Hegseth, who took over the pentagon four weeks ago, has been vocal in his criticism of military leadership, particularly on issues related to diversity and inclusion policies.
Hegseth had earlier suggested that firing Brown should be one of Trump’s first moves. In a podcast in November, he had said:
"First of all, you got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs."
In Brown’s place, Trump has nominated Lt Gen Dan "Razin" Caine, an F-16 pilot with extensive experience in special operations and intelligence. Caine has served both in the active duty air force and the national guard and was most recently the associate director for military affairs at the CIA.
Despite his vast experience, Caine does not meet certain legal prerequisites for the position. However, the law allows the president to waive these requirements if deemed necessary for national interest.
Hegseth also announced the removal of two additional senior officers:
• Chief of naval operations admiral Lisa Franchetti
• Vice chief of staff of the air force general Jim Slife
These moves are part of a wider shake-up as Trump asserts his authority in his second term. The administration has already begun budget cuts at the Pentagon and plans to lay off 5,400 probationary employees next week.
Brown’s removal has drawn criticism, particularly given his past comments on racial issues and diversity in the military. His nomination under Biden was seen as a milestone for representation in the US armed forces.
Before his confirmation as air force chief in June 2020, Brown had spoken out about the killing of George Floyd, reflecting on his experiences as a black officer in the military.
Hegseth has previously questioned whether Brown’s appointment was based on merit or race. In one of his books, he wrote:
"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."
This latest move is part of Trump’s broader effort to remove officials linked to the Biden administration, even from positions that traditionally carry over between presidencies.
Despite earlier public assurances that he would work with Brown, Hegseth’s Senate confirmation hearing last month had hinted at an imminent shake-up. Asked if he would fire Brown, he had bluntly stated:
"Every single senior officer will be reviewed based on meritocracy, standards, lethality, and commitment to lawful orders."
With Brown’s dismissal and Caine’s nomination, Trump has now firmly stamped his authority on military leadership, signalling further upheavals at the Pentagon in the coming weeks.