Trump Firing Highly Respected Generals, Admirals is Sparking 'Very Serious Degradation' of US Military, Senators Warn

President Donald Trump's recent firing of top military leaders, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown Jr., have drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers who warn of growing politicization within the armed forces, with Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, calling the move "completely unjustified."

"People are questioning whether they should stay, talented leaders are wondering if they should get out," said Reed on ABC's "This Week", adding that "it is the beginning of a very, very serious degradation of the military and politicization of the military."

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) echoed Reed's concerns on NBC's "Meet the Press:"

"Donald Trump (...) is sending a dangerous message to the military: It's not about your independent expertise, it's not about your years of service. It's about your personal political loyalty to me, and that is a dangerous message to send to our military at a time when we really need independent, credible advice in going to the president, because we live in a difficult, complex world"

Brown, a four-star fighter pilot and the first Black chief of staff of the Air Force, was confirmed by the Senate in 2023 with overwhelming bipartisan support. Franchetti, the first woman to serve as chief of naval operations, was also widely respected within military circles. Reed emphasized that these leaders "were committed to their oath to defend the Constitution of the United States."

The administration's actions also included the removal of top military legal officers—the judge advocates general (JAGs) of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth defended the firings, saying the administration wants leadership aligned with its national security strategy. "I have a lot of respect for CQ Brown. He's an honorable man, but not the right man for the moment," Hegseth said on "Fox News Sunday." He also dismissed concerns about political motivations, stating, "The president deserves to pick his key national security and military advisory team."

However, Hegseth has previously questioned whether Brown's appointment was based on his race. As for Franchetti, he had previously described her as a "DEI hire."