New Delhi: US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is conducting a sweeping leadership overhaul at the Department of Defense, resulting in the departure of numerous high-ranking military and civilian officials. With lawmakers terming the move as a ‘Pentagon purge’, the 46-year-old has fired or blocked the promotions of more than 80 generals and admirals, removing or stalling roughly 10 per cent of the military’s top-ranking officers.
The removals have targeted highly seasoned leaders across all branches, including former Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General CQ Brown, and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti. On Monday, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, too, stepped down after clashing directly with Hegseth over the defence secretary’s interventions in the military’s apolitical promotion tracks.
This reshuffling has left key Army positions vacant, raising concerns among national security experts regarding military readiness and traditional apolitical norms amid an ongoing war with Iran.
“Hollowing out the most battle-tested and most lethal, proven leaders in a time of war means troops are less safe and we’re less likely to win,” Representative Pat Ryan, Democrat of New York and a former Army intelligence officer, told The New York Times. “We’re doing generational damage to the sense that the military is an apolitical trusted organization that swears an oath to the Constitution, not to a president.”
Frank Kendall, the former US Air Force Secretary, said that Hegseth is trying to politicise the US military.
“It’s causing people to be afraid and refuse, and, in many cases, I think he’s not getting good advice because people are afraid to tell him things that he doesn’t want to hear. Long-term serious damage is being done to our military,” he told ABC News.
Meanwhile, several military experts told CNN that ‘people are so frightened’ by Hegseth’s purging move.
The US Army, however, downplayed the impact of the firings, asserting that its ‘leadership continues to meet strategic goals’ and ‘maintain high readiness’.
“Army leaders exemplify the highest standards of duty, selflessness, and professional excellence. They are actively driving the Army’s mission forward, ensuring that our strategic objectives are met, our modernisation efforts remain on track and our global readiness is never compromised,” Cynthia O Smith, an Army spokeswoman, told The New York Times.
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‘US knows we can’t defend ourselves’
The Pentagon reshuffle has also triggered a policy change among US’ allies. Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, acknowledged the US demand for Europeans to take greater responsibility for their own defence, but stressed that the alliance remains united.
“There is broad agreement among allies on the need to step up,” he had said.
Hegseth’s move has also triggered a row on social media.
“Many have asked, what would a presidential admin do differently if their goal WAS to destroy our democracy…? They’d certainly hire a Pete Hegseth,” an X user had posted.
Another X user posted, “I believe that America is at risk of being invaded by either Russia or China because they know we cannot defend ourselves because of trump and Pete Hegseth.”