Washington, D.C. [US]: The Trump administration has undertaken a significant overhaul of the U.S. military, dismissing top military officials, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of the Navy, and the Vice Chief of the Air Force, CNN reported.
President Donald Trump announced on Friday (local time) that he had dismissed General Charles Q. Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and replaced him with Air Force Lt. Gen. John Dan “Razin” Caine. According to CNN, this decision is notable because Caine is retired and does not hold a four-star rank.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed gratitude for General Brown’s decades of service:
“Over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family.”
Trump then introduced his replacement:
“Today, I am honored to announce that I am nominating Air Force Lieutenant General Dan ‘Razin’ Caine to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Caine is an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with significant interagency and special operations experience.”
The President highlighted Caine’s past achievements, particularly his role in the defeat of ISIS:
“During my first term, Razin was instrumental in the complete annihilation of the ISIS caliphate. It was done in record-setting time, a matter of weeks. Many so-called military ‘geniuses’ said it would take years to defeat ISIS. General Caine, on the other hand, said it could be done quickly, and he delivered.”
Trump also accused the Biden administration of overlooking Caine for a promotion despite his qualifications and respect within the military. He further stated that under the leadership of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the military would prioritize “peace through strength,” align with the “America First” agenda, and undergo further restructuring.
Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Secretary Hegseth confirmed the dismissal of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of the U.S. Navy, and General James Slife, Vice Chief of the Air Force. Hegseth also stated that nominations were being sought for the Judge Advocates General of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, suggesting additional leadership changes.
“I am also requesting nominations for the positions of Chief of Naval Operations and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff. The incumbents in these important roles, Admiral Lisa Franchetti and General James Slife, respectively, have had distinguished careers. We thank them for their service and dedication to our country,” Hegseth said.
He further emphasized the administration’s military priorities:
“Under President Trump, we are putting in place new leadership that will focus our military on its core mission of deterring, fighting, and winning wars.”
According to CNN, federal law mandates that the president must select top military officers from among four-star generals in combatant commands or military service chiefs. However, the law allows for a waiver if it is deemed “necessary in the national interest.”