Since Pete Hegseth assumed the role of defense secretary at the start of the second Trump administration, the Department of Defense has undergone a significant leadership transition. At least 20 generals, admirals, and high-ranking civilian officials have been fired or have left their positions, marking a period of intense turnover within the military’s top brass.
The departures include some of the most decorated leaders across the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Critics and observers note that the administration has disproportionately removed Black and female officers from leadership roles and promotion lists. This trend aligns with Hegseth’s pre-nomination rhetoric, where he stated on a podcast that any general or admiral involved in what he termed “DEI woke s***” would be removed.
The administration has faced internal friction during these changes. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned this week, with sources indicating he was concerned that officers instrumental in modernizing the Army for future warfare were being pushed out. While there is a statutory limit of 36 four-star generals and admirals, many of those who departed left well before their assignments were scheduled to conclude.
Among the most high-profile 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 just 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 Gen. Dan Caine. Hegseth defended the move by stating the president deserves to choose 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, the chief of naval operations, of her duties without providing a specific explanation. Franchetti had made history as the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Similarly, Air Force General James Slife, the vice chief of staff, was pushed out following the announcement of Brown’s departure.
The turnover has extended to key operational commands and legal departments. General Randy George, the Army’s top uniformed officer, was asked to take immediate retirement in April. Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin also retired last November, midway through his two-year term. Additionally, Hegseth moved to clear out the military’s legal leadership, terminating the judge advocate generals of both the Army and the Air Force, Lieutenant Generals Joseph B. Berger III and Charles Plummer, respectively. Hegseth characterized these moves as a need for “fresh blood” and expressed a desire for lawyers who would not act as “roadblocks” to his agenda.
Operational leadership has also seen significant changes. Admiral Alvin Holsey, who led U.S. Southern Command, retired late last year after overseeing strike campaigns against drug-trafficking vessels. General Christopher Donahue, known for his role as the last U.S. service member to leave Afghanistan and his early presence in Ukraine, has also departed. In April 2025, Air Force General Timothy Haugh was fired from his position as NSA director and head of U.S. Cyber Command, a move reportedly influenced by right-wing commentator Laura Loomer, despite Haugh’s public denials of disloyalty.
Internal investigations have also played a role in the reshuffling. In August 2025, Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse was ousted as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Earlier, in April 2025, two of Hegseth’s top aides, Caldwell and Selnick, were fired during a leak investigation. The pair publicly questioned the legitimacy of the probe on social media, stating they were never informed of the specific allegations or whether a genuine investigation into leaks existed.
Pentagon spokesman John Ullyot, who was central to the effort to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from the military, left his role in April 2025. While Ullyot maintained his departure was voluntary, Hegseth suggested he was fired, telling “Fox and Friends” that those familiar with the situation understood why he was let go. Other departures include Lieutenant General Jennifer Short, who served as the senior military assistant to the secretary of defense. 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 all Hegseth told Fox News about the ouster was that the president should be able to pick his adviser. 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. The report also notes that he issued a call for nominations for the posts and also fired Berger and Plummer, though he did not identify them by name, in a February 2025 statement. The report also notes that at the time, he told Fox News that he wanted lawyers who aren’t “roadblocks,” and he referred to the JAG leadership as a “small group of insulated officers who perpetuate the status quo.
