Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked by Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream about the recent firing of top lawyers for the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force—a move that has sparked backlash and raised concerns over the potential politicization of the country’s armed forces.
Why It Matters
Judge Advocates Generals, known as JAGs, are the legal arm of the armed services. The nonpolitical figures advise military leaders on range of compliance matters including international and humanitarian law, prosecute and defend service members, and offer consul on operations, among other matters.
Their firings on Friday come as the Pentagon announces plans to begin cutting thousands of probationary civilian employees, part of a broader government shakeup that has occurred across multiple agencies and departments since President Donald Trump took office.
The administration has faced pushback on its agenda to cut the federal workforce, drawing criticism from opponents and challenges in court.
What To Know
The JAGs of the Army, Navy and Air Force—Lieutenant General Joseph B. Berger III, Rear Admiral Lia M. Reynolds, and Lieutenant General Charles L. Plummer—were all dismissed on short notice Friday. Four-star Air Force General Charles Q. Brown Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was also removed in a leadership shake-up at the Pentagon, which has been heavily criticized by some Democrats and veterans.
JAGs often serve across administrations, regardless of political affiliation, in an effort to ensure continuity in legal oversight.
On Sunday, Bream asked Hegseth, who is a former Fox News co-host, about the firings, saying “not surprisingly there’s been some backlash to those who are worried about their removal.”
Hegseth replied: “We want lawyers who give sound constitutional advice and don’t exist to attempt to be roadblocks to anything that happens.”
He described the JAGs as a “small group of insulated officers who perpetuate the status quo, well guess what the status quo hasn’t worked very well at the Pentagon. It’s time for fresh blood, so we’re going to open up those positions to a broader set, in a merit-based process to find the best lawyers possible to lead the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy.”
He added that “there’s nothing about purging, there’s nothing about illegal, we’ve made clear from the beginning, the military will be apolitical with the fidelity of the Constitution, prepared to close with and destroy our enemies.”
Throughout the interview, Hegseth reiterated that “nothing about this is unprecedented” regarding the rapid dismissal of employees at the Pentagon.
The Pentagon, along with dozens of other federal departments and agencies, is dismissing employees in support of Trump and top adviser Elon Musk’s goal of reducing the size of the federal workforce and cutting government spending. Musk, who heads the White House task force, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has recommended cuts to federal probationary employees across the board.
Bream asked Hegseth if he had a rumored list of employees slated for termination, which he dismissed, saying, “We have a very keen eye towards military leadership and their willingness to follow lawful order,” adding that if employees don’t follow Trump’s lawful orders, “then those officers will find the door.”
In a Friday press release, the Department of Defense announced: “We expect approximately 5,400 probationary workers will be released beginning next week as part of this initial effort, after which we will implement a hiring freeze while we conduct a further analysis of our personnel needs, complying as always with all applicable laws.”
AP Photo/Virginia Mayo
What People Are Saying
Rosa Brooks, a Georgetown Law professor, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on February 21: “Trump also firing the Army, Navy and Air Force JAGs. In some ways that’s even more chilling than firing the four stars. It’s what you do when you’re planning to break the law: you get rid of any lawyers who might try to slow you down.”
Darin Selnick, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, in a Friday statement: “We anticipate reducing the Department’s civilian workforce by 5-8% to produce efficiencies and refocus the Department on the President’s priorities and restoring readiness in the force.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, told a reporter this week: “I wouldn’t be against them taking it from a Pentagon to a Trigon. Cut a couple sides off of it.”
Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat, wrote in a Washington Post opinion article Saturday: “…Firing the military’s most senior legal advisers is an unprecedented and explicit move to install officers who will yield to the president’s interpretation of the law, with the expectation they will be little more than yes men on the most consequential questions of military law.”
Representative Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat, wrote in an X post on Friday night: “Dictators or wannabe kings fire generals who don’t agree with their politics. This isn’t a banana republic. What Trump and Hegseth are doing is un-American, unpatriotic. It’s definition of politicizing our military, and we should expect to see loyalty oaths (not to the Constitution) and worse coming soon.”
What Happens Next?
Trump has announced the nomination of Air Force Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He must be confirmed by the Senate.
It is not yet known who will replace the three JAGs.
