According to recent reports, plans to overhaul senior leadership at the Pentagon may be underway, with every official appointed by former Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley potentially facing removal. "Every single person that was elevated and appointed by Milley will be gone," a source stated, adding that a "detailed list" exists of all officials affiliated with Milley slated for replacement.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff, comprising the top-ranking officers across the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard, and Space Force, represent the highest levels of military leadership. The news of possible mass dismissals came shortly after former President Donald Trump selected Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator and military veteran, as his choice for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth has openly expressed a desire to overhaul the Pentagon's leadership, saying, "The next president of the United States needs to radically overhaul Pentagon senior leadership to make us ready to defend our nation and defeat our enemies. Lots of people need to be fired," as he wrote in his 2024 book *The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.
Hegseth’s appointment may face hurdles in the Senate, given his limited experience in high-level management. If confirmed, however, his plans for a sweeping restructuring could significantly reshape the Pentagon’s leadership.
Recent discussions on a potential shakeup within the U.S. military leadership have included Air Force General C.Q. Brown, the successor to General Mark Milley, as a likely figure to be replaced. Pete Hegseth recently questioned if Brown's appointment was influenced by his race, stating, "Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We'll never know, but always doubt," adding that Brown's own emphasis on racial issues could impact perceptions of his appointment.
A source familiar with the transition plans mentioned that Brown could be among numerous senior military officials expected to depart, with plans to replace the Chiefs of the Joint Chiefs and their vice chiefs. However, the source noted that this idea remains in early stages.
Several current and former U.S. officials have downplayed the likelihood of such sweeping changes, warning that it could lead to unnecessary disruptions during a period marked by significant international instability, including ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The same source suggested that a bureaucratic overhaul of this scale might be challenging to execute, hinting that such discussions could be more rhetorical than actionable. However, a second source noted that those supporting these changes argue that the Joint Chiefs' structure needs streamlining, citing concerns about bureaucratic overreach. They indicated confidence in the U.S. military’s ability to adapt to such changes, referencing the swift promotion of younger leaders during World War II as evidence of resilience in the chain of command.