Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has just fired two top military commanders: Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of the Air Force James Slife.
Earlier today, President Trump also fired Air Force General CQ Brown and announced his replacement as Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine.
Take a look at the breaking news:
🚨JUST ANNOUNCED: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to fire 5,400 Pentagon Employees and just fired the Chief of Naval Operations, Lisa Franchetti.
Cleaning house! pic.twitter.com/bo7HJB580M
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) February 22, 2025
🚨BREAKING: Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti has been fired by Pete Hegseth, marking a significant turn of events following the ousting of General Brown.
Let the great purge begin! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/gKEiILwrt5
— 🇺🇸 Larry 🇺🇸 (@LarryDJonesJr) February 22, 2025
This news comes after it was reported earlier that Hegseth is laying off over 5,000 Pentagon employees.
Full scoop on that here:
Hegseth Announces Hiring Freeze, Massive Layoffs Within Pentagon
President Trump and Pete Hegseth are shaking things up, for the better, eliminating all military commanders loyal to the woke agenda at the expense of putting America first.
BREAKING: There's a major purge underway at the Pentagon as we speak.
President Trump and Pete Hegseth are firing all the woke officials in the military.
The Naval Chief is gone, as is the Vice Chief of the Air Force, and the Judge Advocates Generals for the Army, Navy, and Air… pic.twitter.com/jsr02BLI0H
— George (@BehizyTweets) February 22, 2025
And, the purge isn't stopping here.
In fact, it looks like it's far from over.
Hegseth has already requested nominations for several other top military positions, indicating that they will also be fired soon.
CNN's Kaitlan Collins noted:
A major (and long rumored) purge is underway at the Pentagon tonight. After President Trump ousts the Joint Chiefs Chairman, Secretary Hegseth fires the chief of the Navy, the vice chief of the Air Force and says he's “requesting nominations” for the Judge Advocates General for…
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) February 22, 2025
Here's what Hegseth's official statement had to say:
This evening the President announced that he intends to nominate Lieutenant General Dan "Razin" Caine, USAF, for the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation's highest-ranking military officer, and the principal military advisor to the President, Secretary of Defense, and National Security Council.
General Caine embodies the warfighter ethos and is exactly the leader we need to meet the moment. I look forward to working with him.
ADVERTISEMENTThe outgoing Chairman, Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown, Jr., USAF, has served with distinction in a career spanning four decades of honorable service. I have come to know him as a thoughtful adviser and salute him for his distinguished service to our country.
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.
We are also requesting nominations for the Judge Advocates General for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
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.
Breaking Defense reported:
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth today announced he was removing Adm. Lisa Franchetti as the chief of naval operations, unceremoniously ending early the tenure of the first woman to become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In addition, Hegseth said he would be replacing Gen. James Slife, the Air Force’s No. 2 officer, as well as replacing the top Judge Advocate General for the Army, Air Force and Navy.
“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,” Hegseth said in a Friday statement. “We thank them for their service and dedication to our country.”
ADVERTISEMENT“We are also requesting nominations for the Judge Advocates General for the Army, Navy and Air Force,” Hegseth added.
Trump and his supporters, including Hegseth, have repeatedly talked about ridding the military of general officers they deem as “woke.” Franchetti’s firing follows that of Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, who Trump removed as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff minutes before Hegseth’s announcement.
In January, the administration removed former Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan within hours of taking power, citing her focus on DEI, among other things. Vice Chief Adm. Kevin Lunday is serving as the interim commandant.
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