Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering firing or removing generals and senior officers as early as this week, according to multiple U.S. and congressional officials.
A list has been circulated on Capitol Hill that contains generals and senior officers who could be fired or removed, the officials said.
Hegseth, days before President Donald Trump nominated him to lead the Defense Department, said in November that “woke” officials needed to be uprooted from the DOD.
“First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs,” Hegseth said in an appearance on the “Shawn Ryan Show.”
“But any general that was involved — general, admiral, whatever — that was involved in any of the DEI woke s— has got to go,” he continued. “Either you’re in for warfighting, and that’s it. That’s the only litmus test we care about.”
However, on his first day at the Pentagon as secretary, Hegseth seemed to soften in regard to Gen. C.Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On Jan. 27, Brown saluted Hegseth as his motorcade arrived, then shook his hand as the two exchanged pleasantries. With Brown by his side, Hegseth approached a line of reporters and took several questions, including one on whether he intends to fire the general.
“I’m standing with him right now,” Hegseth said, patting Brown on the shoulder. “I look forward to working with him.”
It is not clear whether Brown is on the list.
