WASHINGTON – Members of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition group are drawing up a listing of navy officers to be fired, doubtlessly to incorporate the Joint Chiefs of Workers, two sources stated, in what could be an unprecedented shakeup on the Pentagon.
The planning for the firings is at an early stage after Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory and will change as Trump’s administration takes form, stated the sources, who’re acquainted with the Trump transition and requested anonymity to talk candidly concerning the plans.
One of many sources questioned the feasibility of a mass firing on the Pentagon.
It was additionally unclear if Trump himself would endorse the plan, though previously he has railed extensively towards protection leaders who’ve criticized him. Trump has additionally spoken throughout the marketing campaign of firing “woke” generals and people answerable for the troubled 2021 pullout from Afghanistan.
The Trump marketing campaign didn’t instantly reply to request for remark.
The second supply stated the incoming administration would probably deal with U.S. navy officers seen as linked to Mark Milley, Trump’s former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers.
Milley was quoted within the e-book “Battle” by Bob Woodward, which was revealed final month, calling Trump “fascist to the core” and Trump’s allies have focused him for perceived disloyalty to the previous president.
“Each single individual that was elevated and appointed by Milley will likely be gone,” the second supply stated.
“There is a very detailed checklist of everyone that was affiliated with Milley. And they’re going to all be gone.”
The Joint Chiefs of Workers embody the best rating officers within the U.S. navy and comprise the heads of the Military, Navy, Marines, Air Pressure, Nationwide Guard and House Pressure.
The disclosure of plans to fireside senior leaders of the U.S. armed forces comes a day after Trump picked as his defense secretary Pete Hegseth, a Fox Information commentator and veteran who has signaled a willingness to wash home on the Pentagon.
“The following president of america must radically overhaul Pentagon senior management to make us able to defend our nation and defeat our enemies. Plenty of folks should be fired,” Hegseth stated in his 2024 e-book “The Battle on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Males Who Preserve Us Free.”
It’s unclear if Hegseth’s lack of administration expertise might complicate his Senate affirmation and if a extra conventional different for the place would perform such sweeping dismissals.
Basic Brown to be among the many first fired
Hegseth has additionally taken intention at Milley’s successor, Air Pressure Basic C.Q. Brown, asking whether or not he would have gotten the job if he weren’t Black.
“Was it due to his pores and skin shade? Or his talent? We’ll by no means know, however all the time doubt – which on its face appears unfair to CQ. However since he has made the race card one in every of his greatest calling playing cards, it does not actually a lot matter,” he wrote.
The primary supply acquainted with the transition planning stated Brown could be among the many many officers to depart.
“The chiefs of the Joint Chiefs and all of the vice chiefs will likely be fired instantly,” the supply stated, earlier than noting that this was nonetheless solely early planning.
Some present and former U.S. officers have performed down the potential of such a significant shakeup, saying it could be pointless and disruptive at a time of worldwide turmoil with wars raging in Ukraine and the Center East.
The primary supply stated that it could be troublesome bureaucratically to fireside and change a big swath of senior U.S. navy officers, suggesting the planning may very well be bluster and posturing by Trump allies.
However the second supply recommended the Trump camp believed the Joint Chiefs of Workers wanted to shrink because of perceived bureaucratic over-reach.
Such cuts may very well be endured in a corporation the dimensions of the U.S. navy, the supply stated.
“These individuals are not irreplaceable. They’re very replaceable. After which the opposite factor too is there isn’t a scarcity of individuals that may step up,” the supply stated.
“In World Battle Two, we have been very quickly appointing folks of their 30s or folks competent to be generals. And you understand what? We gained the conflict.”
(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Modifying by Don Durfee and Suzanne Goldenberg)
( headline and story edited by our workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
