Since Pete Hegseth assumed the role of defense secretary at the start of the second Trump administration, at least 20 generals, admirals, and civilian defense leaders have been removed from their positions or have departed the Pentagon. This wave of departures includes some of the military’s most decorated figures, with high-ranking officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force leaving their posts, often with little public explanation.
Hegseth’s approach to personnel has been consistent with his pre-nomination rhetoric, where he stated on a podcast that any general or admiral involved in what he termed “DEI woke s***” had to be removed. Reports indicate that the administration has specifically pushed out top female and Black officers, with sources suggesting these groups have been disproportionately excluded from promotion lists.
The turnover has also affected the legal branch of the military. Early in his tenure, Hegseth cleared out the top ranks of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) corps, terminating leadership including Army Lieutenant General Joseph B. Berger III and Air Force Lieutenant General Charles Plummer. Hegseth justified these moves by claiming he needed lawyers who were not “roadblocks” to his agenda, arguing that the status quo at the Pentagon required “fresh blood.”
Among the most prominent departures was Air Force General Charles Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In February 2025, President Trump fired Brown via social media, thanking him for his service 16 months into his four-year term. Brown, a former fighter pilot with over 3,100 flight hours and only the second Black general to serve as chairman, was replaced by Air Force General Dan Caine. Hegseth defended the move by stating that the president should be able to select his own advisers, describing Brown as “an honorable man, not the right man for the moment.”
On the same day Brown was dismissed, Hegseth relieved Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti of her duties as chief of naval operations without providing a specific explanation. Franchetti had been the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Simultaneously, Hegseth issued a statement pushing out General James Slife, the Air Force vice chief of staff, who had previously commanded the Air Force Special Operations Command.
Other high-level departures have been linked to internal investigations or policy clashes. In April 2025, two of Hegseth’s top aides, Caldwell and Selnick, were fired during a leak investigation led by Kasper. The two, along with a third individual, publicly questioned the validity of the probe on X, noting they had not been informed of the specific allegations against them. Additionally, Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot, who had been instrumental in removing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, left his role in April 2025. While Ullyot maintained he resigned voluntarily, Hegseth later suggested on “Fox and Friends” that he had been fired.
The Army has also seen significant turnover. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned this week, with sources familiar with the matter stating he was concerned that generals leading efforts to modernize the Army for future warfare were being systematically pushed out. Similarly, General Randy George, the Army’s top uniformed officer, was asked by Hegseth to take immediate retirement in April. Air Force General David Allvin also retired last November, just over halfway through his two-year term.
Operational leadership has not been spared. Admiral Alvin Holsey, the top U.S. officer in Central and South America, retired late last year after overseeing strike campaigns against drug-trafficking vessels. General Christopher Donahue, head of U.S. Army Europe and Africa and known for being the last service member to leave Afghanistan, was also removed. Furthermore, Air Force General Timothy Haugh, the director of the NSA and head of U.S. Cyber Command, was fired in April 2025, reportedly following pressure involving right-wing personality Laura Loomer, though Haugh denied allegations of disloyalty. Finally, the Defense Intelligence Agency saw the ouster of Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse in August 2025, a move that reportedly caught agency staff by surprise. The report also notes that there are currently no active four-star women generals or admirals in the military. The report also notes that many of those who failed to secure promotions have left the military. The report also notes that for instance, a recent CRS report says there can be 36 four-star generals or admirals, but some of those forced out left before the end of their assignment. The report also notes that others were ousted by Hegseth over suspected leaking to the media. The report also notes that after she headed the 6th Fleet and U.S, biden nominated her to be chief of naval operations in 2023. The report also notes that and was commander of a naval destroyer and an aircraft carrier strike group, naval Forces Korea. The report also notes that with more than 3,100 flight hours, including 280 in combat, he spent most of his career in special operations aviation assignments.
Source: CBS News
