Pentagon Faces Purge as Defense Secretary Targets Senior Officers

ARLINGTON, Va. — Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is reportedly planning to fire more than half a dozen generals and flag officers in what sources describe as a significant overhaul of the Department of Defense’s leadership. This move is aimed at eliminating senior leaders perceived as overly political or too closely aligned with former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Rumors surrounding these potential dismissals have circulated for weeks, but a more formal list of possible firings was recently shared with Republican lawmakers, indicating that action may be imminent. Notably, Democrats were not included in this briefing, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The list reportedly includes General CQ Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Before his confirmation, Hegseth publicly called for Brown’s dismissal, criticizing his focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion within the military. “First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs,” Hegseth stated during a November appearance on the “Shawn Ryan Show.”

Despite these past comments, on his first day at the Pentagon, Hegseth expressed a willingness to collaborate with Brown, highlighting the conflicting messages that have emerged.

A spokesperson for Brown declined to comment on the possible dismissal, which appears to reflect broader tensions within the military leadership.

The list also mentions Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the current Chief of Naval Operations, who made history as the first woman to hold this position and to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If she were to be dismissed, it would result in the military lacking a female four-star general for the first time in recent years. In his latest book, Hegseth suggested that her appointment was solely due to her gender, stating, “If naval operations suffer, at least we can hold our heads high. Because at least we have another first!”

Franchetti’s office did not provide a comment regarding her potential dismissal.

Additionally, the list circulating among lawmakers includes potential replacements for Brown, such as Admiral Samuel Paparo, currently leading U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, and General Erik Kurilla, who heads U.S. Central Command.

These potential firings come amidst significant upheaval within the Pentagon, as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by President Donald Trump, seeks to implement severe budget cuts to the Department of Defense (DoD). Hegseth has been tasked with identifying strategies to reduce the DoD budget by 8% annually over the next five years, a process that could lead to the termination of tens of thousands of civilian employees, particularly those in probationary positions.

Some officials responsible for drafting lists of employees targeted for termination have raised concerns about the legality of these mass firings, warning of potential risks to U.S. military readiness, according to reports from CNN.

In the weeks leading up to these discussions, representatives from DOGE have initiated meetings with Pentagon officials and are in the process of establishing office facilities within the Pentagon as they prepare for imminent budget cuts and layoffs.

This developing story has been updated to reflect the correct title of Admiral Samuel Paparo. Additional details will be provided as the situation unfolds.