International
Trump Sacks Top US Military Officer CQ Brown
- Trump fires Joint Chiefs Chairman CQ Brown in major military shake-up.
- Pentagon to cut budget and dismiss 5,400 probationary employees.
- Federal court blocks Trump’s ban on diversity programs, citing free-speech concerns.
President Donald Trump has dismissed General Charles “CQ” Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s top military leadership.
Brown, the highest-ranking military officer in the United States, was among several senior officials removed as part of the shake-up.
“I want to thank General Charles ‘CQ’ Brown for his over 40 years of service to our country, including as our current Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” Trump posted on social media, adding that five other top officers would also be replaced.
EDITOR’S PICKS
- 45% of Nigerian Girls Become Mothers Before 18 — World Bank
- ECOWAS Faces Historic Defection as Three West African Nations Withdraw
- Netanyahu to Meet Trump at White House Next Week
Gen Brown was only the second Black officer in US history to hold the role, which provides military advice to both the president and the secretary of defence. His removal follows criticism from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who previously argued that Brown should be fired for his support of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the military.
Later on Friday, Hegseth announced the dismissal of two more senior officers: Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti and Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Jim Slife. Adm Franchetti was the first woman to lead the Navy. All three officers removed on Friday had been appointed by former President Joe Biden.
“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,” Hegseth said in a statement.
Republican presidential nominee and former U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Reno, Nevada, U.S. October 11, 2024. REUTERS/Fred Greaves
Trump has nominated Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Caine, a career F-16 pilot and former CIA associate director for military affairs, as Brown’s replacement.
Gen Brown was visiting troops at the US southern border when Trump announced his dismissal. Speculation had been growing throughout the week that the president planned to remove the general, whose term was set to expire in 2027.
Brown gained national attention in 2020 when he spoke about race in the military following the killing of George Floyd. In a widely shared video, he reflected on the challenges he faced as one of the few Black officers in his unit and the scrutiny he encountered regarding his qualifications.
He followed in the footsteps of Colin Powell, the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who served from 1989 to 1993.
One of Trump’s first moves after taking office last month was firing Admiral Linda Fagan, the first female commandant of the Coast Guard, citing what he called an “excessive focus” on diversity programs.
FURTHER READING
- [VIDEO] Commotion Rocks PDP BoT Meeting as Faction Confront Each Other
- NiDCOM Prepares for Deportation of Nigerians from U.S
- BREAKING: Sowore Pleads Not Guilty to Cybercrime Charges Filed by Police IG
Defence Secretary Hegseth has long been critical of DEI initiatives in the armed forces, stating in a 2023 podcast that the Trump administration needed to “course correct” these policies.
In addition to the leadership changes, the Pentagon announced on Friday that it would implement budget cuts and dismiss 5,400 probationary employees next week.
Meanwhile, a federal court in Maryland temporarily blocked Trump from enforcing bans on DEI programs, ruling that such directives likely violate free-speech protections under the US Constitution. District Judge Adam Abelson issued the injunction, marking a legal setback for the administration’s efforts to curb diversity-focused policies in government institutions.
Click here to watch our video of the week:
Advertise or Publish a Story on EkoHot Blog:
Kindly contact us at ekohotblog@gmail.com. Breaking stories should be sent to the above email and substantiated with pictorial evidence.
Citizen journalists will receive a token as data incentive.
Call or Whatsapp: 0803 561 7233, 0703 414 5611
