Dramatic shake-up at the Pentagon, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is reportedly preparing to oust one of the most senior military figures in the U.S. Armed Forces. According to two U.S. officials speaking with CNN, Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown—known for his progressive policies—is at risk of being canned as the Trump administration aggressively moves to eliminate “wokeness” from the military.
Gen. Brown, who serves as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, holds the highest military position in the country and serves as a key advisor to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Council. However, his tenure could be coming to an abrupt end as a list of suggested dismissals has reportedly been sent to Congress, signaling Trump’s determination to overhaul military leadership.
Hegseth has been vocal about his intent to remove high-ranking officials he believes have embraced Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. “First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs,” Hegseth declared on the Shawn Ryan Show in November 2024. “But any general that was involved—general, admiral, whatever—that was involved in any of the DEI woke [policies] has got to go. Either you’re in for warfighting, and that’s it. That’s the only litmus test we care about.”
The looming dismissal follows previous reports suggesting that Trump had softened his stance on Brown, with sources telling NBC News in December 2024 that the general hoped to stay in his role even after Trump’s return to office. Brown, nominated by former President Joe Biden in 2023, faced intense scrutiny during his confirmation hearings over allegations of implementing racial quotas in Air Force hiring practices.
Under Biden, the Department of Defense freely pursued left-wing initiatives, including LGBT activism, sex-change procedures, and DEI programs. Now, with Trump back in the White House, the administration is swiftly dismantling these initiatives and shifting focus to what they call a “warrior culture.”
As Trump’s military overhaul takes shape, potential replacements for Brown are already being considered. CNN reports that Indo-Pacific Command leader Gen. Samuel Paparo and U.S. Central Command leader Gen. Erik Kurilla are among the top contenders. Also on the chopping block is Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman appointed to her role, who has openly championed DEI initiatives in the armed forces.
With the Trump administration pushing forward with its military reset, all eyes are on the Pentagon to see who stays—and who gets cut.
