Five former U.S. defense secretaries on Thursday criticized President Donald Trump’s “reckless” firing of top military leaders, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General C.Q. Brown, urging Congress to block the confirmation of their replacements.
The letter, signed by James Mattis, William Perry, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, and Lloyd Austin, accused Trump of politicizing the military, warning that the dismissals weaken national security and threaten the military’s nonpartisan nature.
Trump’s sudden firings, announced last Friday, also included Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead a military service. Brown, only the second Black officer to serve as Joint Chiefs chairman, was ousted midway through his four-year term.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, known for opposing Pentagon diversity programs, defended the move, telling Fox News that while Brown was “honorable,” he was “not the right man for the moment.”
The ex-defense chiefs urged Congress to hold hearings on the national security risks posed by these dismissals, warning that partisan interference could deter Americans from military service and silence dissent within the ranks.
Trump has pushed to reshape federal agencies since returning to office in January, replacing officials with loyalists and firing hundreds of civil servants.
The former defense secretaries also called on the Senate to reject the nomination of retired Lt. General Dan Caine, Trump’s pick to replace Brown, until the full implications of these changes are assessed.
“Congress must hold Mr. Trump accountable and exercise its Constitutional oversight,” the letter concluded.
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