On Thursday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth gave the first of what are expected to be regular blunt video briefings for the American people detailing the radical changes underway at the DoD in order to strengthen the military while cutting fiscal fraud, waste and abuse.
"Ever since I've taken this position, the only thing I've cared about is doing right by our service members — soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and guardians. In short, we want the biggest, most badass military on the planet."
To this end, Hegseth announced the Pentagon would immediately be shifting ~8%, or $50 billion from former President Joe Biden’s budget plans to "America First" priorities for national defense. “We will move away from woke, non-lethal programs and instead spend that money on President Trump’s priorities for our national budget." Hegseth went on to clarify the move:
"That's not a cut; it's refocusing and reinvesting existing funds into building the force that protects you, the American people."
Hegseth added that there are certain areas where funds will not be refocused, including border protection, fighting transnational criminal organizations, nuclear modernization, submarine programs, missile defense, drone technology, cybersecurity, core readiness and training and the defense industrial base.
The Axe Is Swinging
As part of the overall mandate to reduce the size of the federal government, Hegseth announced a hiring freeze and addressed upcoming cuts to the DoD's 700,000-person strong civilian workforce, starting with 5,400 probationary employees.
On Friday, the White House also announced the firing of Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.. On the job only 16 months, Brown will be replaced by Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, a career F-16 pilot who served on active duty and in the National Guard, and had most recently served as the associate director for military affairs at the CIA.
Secretary Hegseth also announced he was removing Adm. Lisa Franchetti as the chief of naval operations, ending the tenure of the first woman to become a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
In addition, Hegseth said he would be replacing Gen. James Slife, the Air Force’s No. 2 officer, as well as the top Judge Advocate General for the Army, Air Force and Navy.
In January, the Trump administration fired former Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan within hours of taking power, citing her focus on DEI and other disruptive initiatives. Vice Chief Adm. Kevin Lunday is serving as the interim commandant.
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