Pentagon Braces for Potential Leadership Changes Under Trump's Second Term
Military leadership and civilian personnel at the Pentagon are preparing for significant changes as President-elect Donald Trump readies to begin his second term. During his campaign, Trump expressed intentions to reshape military leadership, particularly targeting what he describes as "woke" generals.
The anticipated changes stem from tensions during Trump's first term, where he faced resistance from military leaders on various issues, including NATO policy and domestic troop deployment. Several former military leaders, including past defense secretaries and Joint Chiefs chairman Mark Milley, have become vocal critics of Trump, leading to public disputes.
Current Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed (D) expressed concerns about potential dismissals of military officers who prioritize constitutional principles. The administration's focus on cultural issues could influence personnel decisions, as evidenced by Trump's June Fox News interview where he confirmed intentions to remove leaders he considers "woke."
Some officials suggest that Air Force General C.Q. Brown, the current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, might face scrutiny. Brown, who has advocated for diversity in the military and addressed discrimination following George Floyd's death in 2020, maintains his focus on national security. His spokesperson, Navy Captain Jereal Dorsey, affirmed their commitment to ensuring a smooth transition.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, who voted against Brown's confirmation, supports replacing officials perceived as resistant to presidential directives. Campaign promises included reversing certain military policies, such as restoring Confederate names to military bases and addressing transgender service policies.
## Policy Implementation Concerns
The president-elect has suggested expanding military involvement in domestic policies, including:
- Using National Guard forces for immigration enforcement
- Potential deployment of active-duty troops for domestic situations
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized in a post-election message that the military would follow "all lawful orders" from civilian leadership. However, experts like Kori Schake from the American Enterprise Institute note that military personnel must follow legal orders regardless of moral objections.
## Impact on Civilian Personnel
Concerns extend beyond military leadership to civilian Pentagon employees. A senior defense official, speaking anonymously, highlighted growing anxiety about potential purges of career civil servants among the department's nearly 950,000 non-uniformed employees.
During the campaign, Trump pledged to reform federal workforce policies, potentially affecting longtime career officials who previously helped shape policy implementation. Some officials worry this could lead to a loss of specialized expertise within the department.
One military official offered a different perspective, suggesting that any dramatic changes to the military command structure would face political resistance and might prove unnecessary for achieving policy goals. "Military officers are generally focused on warfighting and not politics," the official noted.
The Trump transition team has not yet responded to requests for comment on these matters.