Former Defense Chiefs Demand Congressional Hearings on Trump’s Controversial Firing of Top Military Leaders

Five former U.S. defense secretaries are urging Congress to hold immediate hearings regarding President Trump’s recent dismissals of military leadership, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. They expressed their concerns in a letter shared with the Associated Press.

These five former secretaries span both Republican and Democratic administrations over the last thirty years. They found the firings troubling, suggesting they indicated a troubling trend of politicizing the military and potentially undermining checks on presidential power.

Last week, Trump removed Air Force General CQ Brown Jr. from his role as chairman. This was followed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissing multiple senior officers, including Admiral Lisa Franchetti and General Jim Slife, as well as the judge advocates general, who advise on legal matters within the military.

Hegseth defended these actions by claiming that it is normal for presidents to select their military teams. He asserted that the judge advocates general were not suited to advise on lawful orders, which led to their dismissal.

The letter from the former defense secretaries—signed by William Perry, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, Jim Mattis, and Lloyd Austin—questioned the justifications for these firings. They noted that many of the dismissed officers were chosen by Trump for key roles in the past and had impressive records in military service.

“Like many Americans, we believe these firings may be politically motivated,” said the letter. The signatories urged Congress to take action, emphasizing that their request is not a favor but a duty.

As Congress considers the implications of these actions, the former secretaries are also calling for a halt to confirmations for new Pentagon appointments, which includes retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominated by Trump for the position of chairman.

Caine’s nomination raises eyebrows because he would need to return to active duty, but does not fulfill the legal criteria for the chairmanship. Typically, a chairman must have previous experience as a combat commander or service chief, although the president can bypass these requirements.

Among the signers of the letter, Hagel is a Republican, while Mattis, an independent, has previously served as Trump’s defense chief. The others are Democrats. Notably, four of the five former secretaries have military backgrounds, including two who achieved the rank of four-star general.

They urged Congress to demand an explanation from the administration for each dismissal and to address how these actions contradict the intention of Congress that the chairman complete a four-year term. General Brown had served for just over 17 months before his removal.

In recent years, the Pentagon has indeed seen high-profile firings of senior officers, often accompanied by clear explanations, such as disagreements over military strategy or critical public comments about leadership.

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