Pete Hegseth revealed the dismissal of top military lawyers was intended to remove “roadblocks” to the Trump administration’s agenda and shake up the way the armed forces are run.
In an interview with Shannon Bream on Fox News Sunday, the Secretary of Defense made the chilling admission as he revealed he wanted to make room for fresh faces to change the Pentagon’s overall performance.
“We want lawyers who give sound constitutional advice and don’t exist to attempt to be roadblocks to anything that happens in their spots,” he said in the interview Sunday.
Bream pointed to a comment from a law professor at Georgetown slamming Trump’s firings Friday of several military staff, including the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGs) who provide legal services.
“Trump also firing the Army, Navy and Air Force JAGs. In some ways that’s even more chilling than firing the four stars [officers]. 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,” Professor Rosa Brooks said in a tweet on X.
Hegseth did not appear to be rattled by the comment as he candidly revealed that the purge was to remove “roadblocks.”
“Traditionally, they’ve been elected by each other or chosen by each other, which is exactly how it works, often with the chairman as well— a small group of insulated officers who perpetuate the status quo,” he continued. “Well, guess what? Status Quo hasn’t worked very well at the Pentagon,” he said.
“It’s time for fresh blood.”
The mass purge of high-ranking officers, including Chair of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., stunned critics earlier this week, according to Politico.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine is set to replace Brown while Hegseth has requested nominations to replace chiefs at Naval Operations and the Air Force.
Perhaps surprisingly given his past record of attacking officials he has dismissed, President Donald Trump sent a tribute to Brown and praised him for his 40 years of service.
“He is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family,” Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday.
