For many leaders in the U.S. military, President Trump’s titular catchphrase, “You’re fired,” has become a reality. Six high-ranking military officers, most of whom were women or minorities, were laid off by the Trump administration. Trump aims to bring back merit and remove “woke officers” to promote a stronger lethality in the armed forces. He and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argue that the U.S. military has become too political, and that work must be done to restore impartiality. But since when did supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) become a valid cause for termination?
The first to be let go was Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan, just two days after Trump took office. Fagan was the first woman to ever conduct a branch of the military and the first commandant to ever be fired. According to FoxNews, after announcing her termination, she was evicted from her home and told she had three hours to collect her possessions and find a new place to stay (foxnews.com). Along with accusations of inappropriate behavior and being an inefficient leader, “an excessive focus on DEI” was listed in the reasons for her removal, according to NBC (nbcnews.com). This insinuates that promoting DEI is no longer acceptable.
Along with Trump, Hegseth has played a major role in removing DEI from the U.S. armed forces. According to an article published by Military.com, on February 21, Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti was fired by Hegseth for unknown reasons. (military.com) He claimed that Franchetti was unqualified for her position and lacked the confidence to perform her duties. Serving in the U.S. Navy for 40 years and being the first female chief is no easy feat. Many officers who worked with Franchetti have countered his claim, saying that she had the same credentials as her male predecessors and was a great leader.
The last of the women to be laid off was the U.S. Navy Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, the only woman on NATO’s committee. The reasons for her firing included comments she made in the past that aligned with DEI content; for instance, on Women’s Equality Day in 2015, Chatfield said, “Diversity is our strength,” according to an Associated Press article entitled, “Trump Administration Fires Senior Navy Female Officer at NATO. She Appeared On A ‘Woke’ List,” published on April 7. (apnews.com) This was said in a speech she made to empower women. A positive comment that could encourage more female enlistees was now considered politically biased. The same article explained Chatfield was removed by Hegseth as she was included on a “woke list,” compiled by a group of conservatives.
Women are not the only ones to be targeted. Air Force General CQ Brown Jr. was fired from the position of Joint Chief of Staff. A respected fighter pilot and the second black general to serve as chairman is now facing consequences for promoting Black Lives Matter content five years ago. According to an article published by the Council on Foreign Relations (cfr.org), African Americans only make up 18% of officers in the armed forces. Wanting to share his experiences, he made a video to the Air Force where he opened up about the pressures that came along with being one of a few black men in his unit, as reported in an Associated Press article (apnews.com).
According to Hegseth, Brown’s “”woke” focus on diversity, equity and inclusion programmes in the military” constituted his removal. (bbc.com) In an article by AP News (apnews.com) entitled,“Trump Fires Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Two Other Military Officers,” Hegseth said, “Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know. […] But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter.” Hegseth insinuated that he is not qualified for his position and was chosen because of his race, ignoring his many years of experience and service.
Ironically in replacement of General Brown Jr., Dan “Raizin” Caine was confirmed as the new Joint Chief of Staff. Trump and Caine have had a relationship since 2019. Trump recalled Caine donning a “Make America Great Again” cap when they first met, which Caine denies. (cbsnews.com) In the article, “What to Know about Dan Caine, the Nation’s Newly Confirmed Top Military Advisor” by NPR (npr.com), Trump said, “I’m going to get back to you soon, Raizin– I think you’re great.” Caine, lacking the technical qualifications to become Joint Chief of Staff, is excused on behalf of Trump who wants to choose someone who supports his administration, which diminishes his argument that the military should be impartial. Spanish teacher Bill Luzzi said, “Why is DEI being used as a negative when we break down what it is? Equitable is equality for people, diversity is teaching our differences, and inclusion is including all people.”
This is discouraging for many people in the military and others who may consider joining. A Business Insider article entitled, “More People Are Joining The Military. A Shaky US Job Market Could Be Boosting The Numbers,” (businessinsider.com) reports that recruiting has been on track to exceed its goals in 2025 and has had the highest rates of enlistment in 20 years. Trump and his administration are sending out a message that women and minorities are not welcome in higher ranks of the military. Promoting DEI should not be used as a threat for termination. Embracing each other’s differences and sharing experiences does not equate to being politically biased. According to a Guardian article entitled, “White House Stunned As Hegseth Inquiry Brings Up Illegal Wiretap Claims,” (theguardian.com) with Hegseth currently being put on leave amid an investigation, it is unclear what the Department of Defense is planning.
