Hegseth forces out 24 generals as Pentagon purge deepens

The Pentagon's top brass is being hollowed out at a pace unseen in modern American history, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forcing out more than two dozen senior officers in a campaign that risks politicizing the military chain of command during an active war with Iran.

Hegseth has fired or forcibly retired 24 generals and senior commanders since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, according to a tally by the Guardian. About 60% of those removed have been Black or female, a pattern critics say reflects the administration's campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the armed forces.

"The senior leadership of the US military has been substantially damaged," said Paul Eaton, a retired Army major general who commanded US forces after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. "You develop a fracture in the cohesion of the people at that level. It is if you haven't been purged, you wonder if you are next if you say the wrong thing."

The latest casualty is Gen. Chris Donahue, the top US Army commander in Europe, who will relinquish his four-star post at a ceremony in Germany on July 2 — his European assignment cut short mid-tour. Donahue, who led Delta Force commandos against Islamic State and was the last American service member to depart Afghanistan in 2021, submitted retirement papers at the Pentagon's request, according to the Wall Street Journal. His command is being downgraded from four stars to three as part of Hegseth's broader push to reduce the general and flag officer corps by 10% overall and 20% for four-star positions.

Donahue joins a growing list of high-profile ousters. In April, Hegseth fired Gen. Randy George as Army chief of staff after the general reportedly refused an instruction to strike four officers — two Black men and two women — from a promotion list. Gen. CQ Brown, the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was terminated in February 2025 and replaced by Dan Caine, a retired three-star general who had to be quickly promoted to four-star rank. Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve as chief of naval operations and sit on the Joint Chiefs, was also removed.

The purge extends beyond combat commands. Hegseth has fired top military lawyers for the Army, Navy and Air Force, along with the directors of the Defense Intelligence Agency and the NSA. The New York Times reported in November that Hegseth has fired or sidelined dozens of officials "with little explanation," creating "an atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust" within the department.

The timing raises acute concerns. The Pentagon has told senators it needs roughly $80 billion to cover the cost of the US war against Iran, according to the Associated Press. The Senate on Tuesday approved a war powers resolution seeking to block military action against Iran by a 50-48 vote — the first time the chamber has passed such a measure — reflecting growing unease among lawmakers about the conflict and the deal Trump struck to end it.

Five former defense secretaries, including retired Gen. Jim Mattis who served under Trump, condemned the pattern of firings as "reckless" in a joint letter to Congress last year. They warned that "talented Americans may be far less likely to choose a life of military service if they believe they will be held to a political standard" and that "those currently serving may grow cautious of speaking truth to power."

The Reagan Institute's December poll found public confidence in the military has fallen to roughly 50%, down from 70% in 2018. The partisan gap has widened sharply: confidence among Democrats dropped to 33%, while Republican confidence rebounded to 67%.

For defense contractors, the leadership vacuum creates uncertainty around procurement priorities and strategic direction. Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp. and RTX Corp. — the three largest US defense firms by revenue — face an unpredictable Pentagon that has sidelined experienced commanders in favor of less accomplished political loyalists. The $80 billion Iran war supplemental, if approved, would provide a near-term revenue catalyst, but the longer-term risk is a military whose senior leaders are selected for ideological alignment rather than operational competence.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host and National Guard infantry major, has focused much of his energy on issues of personal interest — shaking up the Pentagon's chaplain services and publicly invoking that "Christ is king" in meetings. Most day-to-day operations are overseen by Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg, a billionaire investment firm owner. Insiders describe Hegseth as increasingly isolated, surrounded by a small coterie including his wife Jennifer, his brother Phil, and personal attorney Tim Parlatore.

The last time the US military experienced a comparable leadership shake-up was in 1949 when Defense Secretary Louis Johnson purged senior Navy officials over the "Revolt of the Admirals" — a dispute about strategic bombing priorities that led to the resignation of the Navy secretary and the firing of the chief of naval operations. That episode was resolved within months. The current purge has now been underway for 16 months with no end in sight.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.