US President Donald Trump has fired General CQ Brown, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in his latest DEI crackdown.
The dismissal of America's highest-ranking military officer came alongside the removal of several other top commanders, including Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead the US Navy.
Trump announced the changes on social media, thanking Gen Brown for his "over 40 years of service to our country".
The dramatic overhaul also saw the removal of Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General Jim Slife.
Gen Brown was the second black officer to hold the post of Joint Chiefs Chairman,
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All three dismissed officers had been appointed by former president Joe Biden.
Trump announced he would nominate Air Force Lt Gen Dan Caine as the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Lt Gen Caine, a career F-16 pilot, most recently served as CIA associate director for military affairs.
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference last year, Trump recalled meeting Gen Caine in Iraq, saying: "He looked better than any movie actor you could get."
In the same speech, Trump criticised the military leadership, stating it was "woke at the top".
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Gen Brown had been visiting troops at the southern US border just hours before Trump's announcement of his departure.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the leadership changes were part of a shift in military priorities.
"Under President Trump, we are putting in place new leadership that will focus our military on its core mission of deterring, fighting and winning wars," Hegseth said in a statement.
Hegseth had previously called for Gen Brown's removal, citing concerns over "woke" diversity programmes.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the leadership changes were part of a shift in military priorities
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The shake-up follows Trump's earlier dismissal of the first female Coast Guard commandant last month over what he termed "excessive focus" on diversity.
Before his confirmation, Hegseth had identified firing the chairman of joint chiefs as a key step in "course correcting" military problems, including diversity initiatives.
Gen Brown was the second black officer to hold the post of Joint Chiefs Chairman, following Colin Powell who served from 1989-93.
In 2020, Gen Brown gained attention for speaking out about racial issues following George Floyd's death.
He released a video message describing his experiences as one of few black men in his unit, including facing questions about his credentials.
While serving as Air Force Chief of Staff in 2022, Gen Brown co-signed a memo outlining diversity targets.
The memo aimed to increase minority officer applicants while reducing the rate of white candidates, according to the Air Force Times.
His term was originally set to continue until 2027.
Meanwhile, Trump's efforts to restrict diversity programmes face legal challenges
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The Pentagon announced it would cut its budget and eliminate 5,400 probationary employees next week.
Meanwhile, Trump's efforts to restrict diversity programmes face legal challenges.
A federal court in Maryland has temporarily blocked the president's attempts to ban diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
District Judge Adam Abelson ruled that Trump's directives could violate constitutional free-speech rights.
