In a strongly worded letter to Congress, five former US defense secretaries criticized President Donald Trump’s recent firings of senior Pentagon officials, calling the actions “reckless” and urging lawmakers to hold him accountable.
“We write to urge the US Congress to hold Mr. Trump to account for these reckless actions and to exercise fully its constitutional oversight responsibilities,” the letter stated. The signatories include officials who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations over the past three decades.
Trump’s overhaul of the US Defense Department began in February with the dismissal of high-ranking officers and plans to cut thousands of civilian jobs. This unprecedented restructuring has drawn criticism, as it places the Pentagon under intense political scrutiny.
Among those removed was former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman CQ Brown, a figure who traditionally remains in office during presidential transitions. Additionally, Trump dismissed the Defense Department inspector general, an independent watchdog responsible for ensuring ethical governance.
Democrats have accused Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of attempting to politicize the military by appointing individuals who are personally loyal to the president rather than committed to the rule of law.
The letter was signed by Lloyd Austin, the most recent defense secretary under Trump’s Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, as well as James Mattis, who served in Trump’s first administration from 2017 to 2018, along with William Perry, Chuck Hagel, and Leon Panetta.
“Mr. Trump’s dismissals raise troubling questions about the administration’s desire to politicize the military and to remove legal constraints on the President’s power,” the letter warned.
The former defense chiefs also expressed concerns over the broader implications of Trump’s actions, stating: “President Trump’s actions undermine our all-volunteer force and weaken our national security.”
As the debate over the Pentagon shake-up continues, political and military analysts warn that these developments could have long-term consequences for US national security and military governance.