In a major shake-up of the United States military leadership, President Donald Trump has dismissed General Charles “CQ” Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with several other top-ranking officers.

Announcing the decision on social media, Trump acknowledged Gen Brown’s service, stating, “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.”

Gen Brown, the second Black officer in US history to hold the prestigious position, was appointed by former President Joe Biden and was set to serve until 2027.

The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the highest-ranking military officer in the country and serves as the principal advisor to both the president and the secretary of defence.

Senior officers removed

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth also confirmed the removal of two other senior officers—Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Jim Slife. Adm Franchetti was notably the first woman to lead the US Navy.

Hegseth, who had previously criticised Gen Brown’s emphasis on diversity and inclusion within the military, said in a statement: “Under President Trump, we are putting in place new leadership that will focus our military on its core mission of deterring, fighting, and winning wars.”

Following Brown’s dismissal, Trump announced his intention to nominate Air Force Lt Gen Dan Caine, a career F-16 pilot who most recently served as the CIA’s associate director for military affairs, as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Targeting diversity programmes

The reshuffle comes amid a broader push by the Trump administration to overhaul the Pentagon’s leadership and priorities. Since assuming office last month, Trump has criticised diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes within the military, calling them a distraction from national security objectives.

In one of his first executive actions, Trump dismissed the first female commandant of the Coast Guard, citing an “excessive focus” on diversity initiatives. Hegseth, in a podcast interview last year before assuming office, had hinted at such changes, remarking that the administration needed to “course correct” military priorities.

The Pentagon also announced on Friday that it would be cutting its budget and laying off 5,400 probationary employees next week.

Legal challenges

Meanwhile, a federal court in Maryland has temporarily blocked Trump’s attempts to dismantle DEI programmes, ruling that such measures likely violate free speech rights under the US Constitution.

US District Judge Adam Abelson stated that the directives were “problematic” and could face further legal challenges in the coming weeks.

Gen Brown, who had been visiting troops at the US southern border when the news broke, made headlines in 2020 for speaking openly about racial challenges in the military following the killing of George Floyd. His departure marks yet another shift in the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the US military’s leadership.