Nice work by Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11) and Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA10):
| Ranking Members Connolly and Subramanyam Launch Investigation Into Trump’s Abrupt Firing of Senior Military Leaders, Call for Transparency |
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Washington, D.C. (February 24, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Military and Foreign Affairs, led Democratic subcommittee members in sending a letter to Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth expressing concern about the abrupt firing of multiple senior military leaders, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. In their letter, Ranking Members Connolly and Subramanyam requested information regarding the circumstances of these firings and transparency into the rationale for the Trump Administration’s seemingly inexplicable actions.
“At 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2025, President Trump announced through a post on TruthSocial that General Brown had been terminated from his post as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Shortly thereafter, you issued a press release indicating that five other senior military officers had been dismissed: Admiral Lisa Franchetti, chief of Naval Operations and the highest-ranking officer in the Navy; General James Slife, vice chief of staff and second in command of the Air Force; and the top lawyers for the Air Force, Army, and Navy. Neither President Trump’s social media post nor your press release contained any basis or rationale for these brazen firings, let alone an indication that the actions were taken based on any standard of performance. These terminations follow the abrupt firing of Admiral Linda Fagan from her role as commandant of the Coast Guard on President Trump’s second day in office,” wrote the Ranking Members. The Ranking Members criticized the decision to fire these seasoned military officers, noting that it would instantly wipe away decades of military experience and “could create a cascade of hasty promotions down the ranks that impact U.S. leadership across the globe.” In addition, the letter points to the Trump’s Administration’s efforts to eradicate diversity initiatives throughout the military, despite the fact that diversity among U.S. armed forces is widely recognized as a strategic strength. “The Administration’s predisposal to terminating senior officers without concern for their experience or capability undermines the ability of the military to execute its mission effectively and broadcasts weakness to our global adversaries. To understand the full nature and rationale of the abrupt firings, as well as plans of succession to preserve military readiness, and to explore whether legislation is necessary to address these actions, we request written responses to the following no later than March 10, 2025,” concluded the Ranking Members. Click here to read the letter to Secretary Hegseth. |
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