Ex-US defense secretaries condemn Trump’s firing of senior military officials

Five former defense secretaries have come forward to criticize President Donald Trump for his recent firings of senior military leaders, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In an open letter published on Thursday, James Mattis, Leon Panetta, Lloyd Austin, Chuck Hagel, and William Perry called on Congress to hold immediate hearings to address the issue.

The former defense secretaries expressed their concerns that Trump’s actions were undermining the all-volunteer force and weakening national security. They accused the president of attempting to politicize the U.S. military and using firings as a way to do so. The letter specifically mentioned the dismissals of Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown and other top military leaders, as well as the Army, Navy, and Air Force lawyers.

All but one of the former defense secretaries who penned the letter served under Democratic administrations, adding a bipartisan perspective to their criticism. They raised questions about the administration’s motives behind the firings and called on Congress to assess the national security implications.

The letter highlighted the dismissal of Air Force General C.Q. Brown, who was only the second Black officer to become Joint Chiefs chairman. The former defense secretaries expressed concerns about the potential politicization of the military and the impact it could have on recruitment and the ability of military leaders to speak truth to power.

They urged Congress to hold President Trump accountable for his actions and fulfill its constitutional oversight responsibilities. The former defense secretaries emphasized the importance of maintaining the apolitical nature of the military and ensuring that military careers are not judged through a partisan lens.

It remains to be seen how Congress will respond to the letter and whether any further action will be taken. The former defense secretaries’ message serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the integrity and independence of the U.S. military.

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