Trump fires more than dozen senior generals and admirals in military leadership overhaul

More than a dozen senior generals and admirals have been fired since President Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, including the first women to lead the Navy and the Coast Guard, and the second African American to serve as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Here’s what you need to know about the sweeping military leadership changes:

The scope of military dismissals

Trump administration fires unprecedented number of senior officers:

• More than dozen senior generals and admirals fired since Trump returned to White House in January 2025
• Includes first women to lead Navy and Coast Guard, and second African American to serve as chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
• Trump administration has offered few explanations for dismissals
• Speculation runs from straightforward downsizing of bloated leadership ranks to politically motivated purge of leaders seen as insufficiently loyal

The most recent firing

Defense Intelligence Agency director dismissed after Iran assessment leak:

• Most recent high-level military officer sent packing was Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, director of Defense Intelligence Agency
• He was fired Friday, only weeks after classified DIA assessment of U.S. strikes on Iran was leaked to media
• Assessment contradicted Trump administration’s contention that Tehran’s nuclear program was demolished by bombing mission
• Defense Department officials said DIA’s pessimistic report was based on limited intelligence gathered day after strike

The intelligence loyalty test criticism

Senate Democrat blasts firing as retaliation for honest analysis:

• Sen. Mark R. Warner, Virginia Democrat who serves as vice chair of Senate Intelligence Committee, blasted decision to sack Gen. Kruse
• Said Trump administration has made practice of treating intelligence as loyalty test rather than safeguard for country
• “It is perhaps unsurprising that General Kruse’s removal as head of Defense Intelligence Agency comes on heels of DIA assessment that directly contradicted president’s claims to have ’obliterated’ Iran’s nuclear program”
• “That kind of honest, fact-based analysis is exactly what we should want from our intelligence agencies, regardless of whether it flatters White House narrative”

The Air Force chief departure

Top Air Force leader announces early retirement:

• Gen. Kruse’s firing came days after Gen. David Allvin, Air Force chief of staff, announced decision to retire on Nov. 1
• Retirement comes halfway into his traditional four-year term leading Air Force
• Hegseth asked Gen. Allvin to retire early, saying he would be allowed to announce move himself, according to Washington Post report
• “Air Force is fortunate to have leaders like General Dave Allvin,” Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink said in statement

The Coast Guard commandant dismissal

First major firing occurred within days of Trump’s return:

• Dismissals began within days of Trump’s return to White House, with firing of Admiral Linda Fagan, then commandant of Coast Guard
• Fired by acting secretary of Homeland Security
• Officials at DHS later told U.S. Navy Institute her termination was due to “leadership deficiencies, operational failures and inability to advance strategic objectives of U.S. Coast Guard”
• Fagan was first woman to lead Coast Guard

The Joint Chiefs shakeup

Chairman and Navy chief among February dismissals:

• Trump said in Feb. 21 post on Truth Social that Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown would be out as chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff before his term was over
• “He is fine gentleman and outstanding leader, and I wish great future for him and his family,” Trump said before announcing nomination of Air Force Gen. Dan Caine to replace Brown
• Admiral Lisa Franchetti, first woman to sit on Joint Chiefs of Staff as chief of Naval Operations, also fired on Feb. 21, 2025
• Her removal part of broad wave of dismissals that also included Air Force Gen. James Slife, vice chief of Staff

The April intelligence and NATO firings

Spring dismissals targeted intelligence and international roles:

• In April, Trump fired director of National Security Agency, Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh
• Also fired Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, former head of Navy War College who was U.S. military representative to NATO military committee at time of termination
• Pattern shows targeting of intelligence leadership and international liaison positions
• Additional recent firings include Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore, chief of U.S. Navy Reserve, and Rear Adm. Milton Sands, commander of U.S. Navy Special Warfare Command

The gender discrimination concerns

Retired admiral warns about targeting female officers:

• “Navy will be much worse off if Secretary Hegseth continues to relieve female officers from senior command and leadership positions,” said retired Navy Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery
• “These women are fully qualified in all respects, and contrary to Hegseth’s uninformed writings in his book, female officers are equally qualified to command at all operational levels of Navy”
• Montgomery told Washington Times: “I think these firings are unjustified and unnecessarily risky. Removing fully qualified officers who don’t meet some politically-driven narrative put forward by Secretary Hegseth is mistake”

The 20% reduction plan

Pentagon announces systematic cuts to senior leadership:

• In May, Defense Department announced plan for minimum 20% reduction in number of 4-star positions across active-duty military
• Also 20% reduction of general officers in National Guard
• In memorandum announcing senior-level personnel reduction, Hegseth said Defense Department must “cultivate exceptional senior leaders who drive innovation and operational excellence”
• “Critical step in this process is removing redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions”

The congressional skepticism

House Democrat questions lack of data-driven analysis:

• Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, top Democrat on House Armed Services Committee, said he was skeptical of “sweeping” plans to cut senior military leadership
• Said they lack both data-driven analysis and explanation of desired outcome
• “As result, his proposal has raised more questions than it answers,” Smith said in statement
• “Does it make sense to make these cuts on heels of previous reductions? Is this part of larger budget and national security strategy? Or is this arbitrary gutting of military leadership?”

Read more:

• Four-star firings: Trump in midst of complete overhaul of generals, admirals