Trump fires Joint Chiefs chairman amid Pentagon shakeup
What's the story
In a major shakeup, President Donald Trump has sacked the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q Brown Jr, as part of a larger restructuring in the Department of Defense.
The news was shared on Truth Social, where Trump lauded Brown's successor, retired Air Force Lieutenant General Dan "Razin" Caine.
Caine was called an "accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a 'warfighter' with significant interagency and special operations experience."
Additional changes
Further dismissals announced by Defense Secretary
Along with Brown's ouster, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also announced the dismissal of Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead the Navy, and General James C. Slife, vice chief of the Air Force.
Hegseth said nominations for their replacements are being sought.
This comes after General Mark Milley was also dismissed from his position as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff amid tensions with Trump over several issues.
Staff changes
Pentagon restructuring raises concerns of job cuts
The Pentagon is already undergoing a major overhaul under Trump's administration, with agencies being ordered to list probationary employees for possible dismissals.
This has sparked fears of mass job cuts among civilian staff.
The Office of Personnel Management, which has played a major role in restructuring the government under President Trump, is yet to comment on these developments.
Conflict of interest
Musk's role in Defense Department decisions questioned
Elon Musk's role in Defense Department decisions has raised eyebrows over possible conflicts of interest, given his companies' government contracts.
However, Defense Secretary Hegseth backs Musk's attempts to eliminate redundancies and waste from the department.
The changes come amid increased political tensions in Washington, with critics accusing Trump of politicizing military appointments and supporters claiming that these moves are essential for national security.