Donald Trump
Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 24, 2024 in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Former Pentagon Chiefs Condemn Trump’s Military Purge in Letter to Congress

Several former Pentagon chiefs criticized President Donald Trump on Thursday for his removal of the Joint Chiefs chairman and multiple senior military officials, according to The Washington Post. Lloyd Austin, Jim Mattis, Chuck Hagel, Leon Panetta, and William Perry—who collectively served as Defense Secretaries from 1994 to 2025—expressed their concerns in a letter to Congress, stating they were “deeply alarmed” by Trump’s actions.

The letter was released less than a week after Trump dismissed C.Q. Brown as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “We are deeply alarmed by President Trump’s recent dismissals of several senior U.S. military leaders. We write to urge the U.S. Congress to hold Mr. Trump to account for these reckless actions and to exercise fully its Constitutional oversight responsibilities,” the ex-officials wrote.

Read Also: Trump Proposes $5 Million “Gold Card” Citizenship—Even for Russian Oligarchs
Read Also: Deficit Hawk Republicans Under Pressure as Trump Pushes Trillion-Dollar Budget Plan

According to the letter, Trump offered no explanation for the firings despite having previously nominated these officers for their roles, with Senate approval. The officials stressed that these officers possessed “exemplary operational and combat experience,” asserting that Trump’s actions “make clear that none of this was about warfighting.”

“Mr. Trump’s dismissals raise troubling questions about the administration’s desire to politicize the military and to remove legal constraints on the President’s power. We, like many Americans—including many troops—are therefore left to conclude that these leaders are being fired for purely partisan reasons,” the letter stated.

Trump and Melania Jimmy Carter funeral
Donald Trump and his wife Melania attended the state funeral held in Washington, D.C., for former President Jimmy Carter. (Photo by Ricky Carioti – Pool/Getty Images)

The former Defense Secretaries urged Congress to immediately hold hearings on the national security implications of the firings. They also called on lawmakers to demand that the administration justify each removal and clarify why the dismissals violated Congress’ legislative intent, which ensures that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs serves a four-year term.

In the meantime, they advised the Senate to withhold confirmation of new Pentagon appointments—including that of retired Lt. General Dan Caine, Trump’s nominee for the next Joint Chiefs chairman. “President Trump’s actions undermine our all-volunteer force and weaken our national security. Talented Americans may be far less likely to choose a life of military service if they believe they will be held to a political standard.

Read Also: Ivanka Trump’s White House Office Demand Sparks Melania’s Fury—Insiders Spill the Drama
Read Also: Fani Willis Fights Back as She Urges Georgia Supreme Court to Reinstate Her in Trump Case

Those currently serving may grow cautious of speaking truth to power or they could erode good order and discipline by taking political actions in uniform. And the public’s traditionally high trust in the armed forces could begin to wither,” the letter warned.

The former officials’ criticism underscores mounting concerns over the politicization of military leadership under the Trump administration, raising alarms about its long-term impact on national security and civil-military relations.

For You:

Related posts

“It’s a Risk She Appears Determined to Run” Judge Aileen Cannon’s Future Intertwined with Trump’s Electoral Fate

Alex Bollinger

Obama Expresses Concern Over Biden’s 2024 Election Prospects Amid Rising Democratic Worries

Addie Andrus

Wall Street Journal Slams House Republicans for Dodging Vote on Trump’s Controversial Tariffs

Alexis N. Crockett

Congressman Ronny Jackson’s Heated Rodeo Encounter Over Distressed Teen Caught on Cam

Bente Birkeland

Harry Litman Resigns from L.A. Times Over “Appeasing Trump” and Owner’s Support

Alexis N. Crockett

“I think if it’s not guilty we got to decide what to do” Stormy Daniels’ Husband Says Family May Flee Country if Trump is Acquitted

Addie Andrus