The U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed General Charles "CQ" Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Friday, marking a significant upheaval in the U.S. military’s top ranks less than two years into Brown’s four-year term.

Trump provided no official reason for the removal, which follows a wave of federal worker layoffs and efforts to dismantle government institutions early in his second term.

Brown, appointed by former President Joe Biden in October 2023, was the second Black individual to serve as the nation’s highest-ranking military officer. Trump praised Brown’s “over 40 years of service” on Truth Social, calling him “a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader.” Brown’s career included commanding fighter units and leading U.S. air forces in Central Command and Indo-Pacific Command. He had previously spoken candidly about facing discrimination as an African American in the military, particularly after the 2020 murder of George Floyd.

In response to Brown’s dismissal, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to replace Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead the U.S. Navy, and General James Slife, vice chief of staff of the Air Force. Hegseth thanked both for their “distinguished careers” but offered no explanation for their departures. Franchetti’s tenure included commanding a destroyer squadron, two carrier strike groups, and serving as deputy commander for U.S. naval forces in Europe and Africa.

Trump nominated Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine to succeed Brown, describing him as “an accomplished pilot, national security expert, and ‘warfighter’” with over 2,800 hours as an F-16 pilot, including 150 combat hours. Caine, who served as associate director for military affairs at the CIA, earned the nickname “Razin” during his service. Trump recounted meeting Caine in Iraq, calling him a standout figure “like from a movie set.”

The shake-up aligns with earlier criticism from Hegseth, who in November called for removing officers linked to “DEI woke shit,” though he later expressed willingness to work with Brown. The abrupt changes signal a broader restructuring of military leadership under Trump’s administration. (ILKHA)