Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Monday that three top military lawyers were sacked because they could obstruct President Trump’s orders, part of a broader Pentagon shakeup. Speaking to reporters, Hegseth framed the move as a push for fresh leadership to ensure the military aligns with the Commander in Chief’s directives, not a stagnant status quo.
At a glance:
- Hegseth called the fired Judge Advocates General (JAGs) potential “roadblocks” to Trump’s orders.
- The JAGs from the Army, Air Force, and Navy were let go in a Friday night Pentagon purge.
- Trump also fired Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown Jr., signaling major changes.
- Hegseth seeks new lawyers to provide “sound constitutional advice” without resistance.
Clearing the Path for Trump’s Vision
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the dismissal of the Judge Advocates General (JAGs) from the Army, Air Force, and Navy, telling reporters Monday, “It’s roadblocks to orders that are given by a Commander in Chief.” These military lawyers, tasked with offering independent legal advice to avoid conflicts with U.S. or international law, were axed amid a Friday night purge of Pentagon brass.
Hegseth clarified, “Ultimately, I want the best possible lawyers in each service to provide the best possible recommendations, no matter what, to lawful orders that are given,” adding, “And we didn’t think those particular positions were well-suited, and so we’re looking for the best.” He stressed opening the roles to new talent, saying, “We’re opening it up to everybody to be able to be the top lawyer of those services.”
The move follows Trump’s earlier decision to fire Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown Jr., with Hegseth also seeking replacements for Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief Gen. James Slife. Hegseth didn’t name the JAGs, and senior Pentagon officials told The New York Times he hadn’t spoken to them since taking office. On Fox News Sunday, he dismissed backlash—like Georgetown Law professor Rosa Brooks’ claim on X that the firings suggest plans to “break the law”—as “hyperbole.” Hegseth argued, “Ultimately, we want lawyers who give sound constitutional advice and don’t exist to attempt to be roadblocks to anything, anything that happens in their spots.”
Breaking from the Old Guard
Hegseth painted the fired JAGs as part of an entrenched system, noting, “What we know about these TJAGs—they’re called TJAGs inside the military—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.” He called them a “small group of insulated officers who perpetuate the status quo,” adding, “Well, guess what? The status quo hasn’t worked very well at the Pentagon. It’s time for fresh blood.”
The purge has sparked debate, with Brooks warning it’s “even more chilling than firing the four stars,” but Hegseth stood firm, aligning the shakeup with Trump’s mandate. The changes signal a Pentagon ready to execute the President’s orders without delay, a priority for a Commander in Chief elected to disrupt business as usual.
