WASHINGTON – Following Donald Trump’s victory on November 5, members of his transition team are reportedly creating a list targeting military officers for dismissal, which may even extend to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to two sources. If executed, this initiative would represent a significant overhaul at the Pentagon.

The discussions around these potential firings are in early stages, and details may evolve as the new administration begins to take shape. The sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, provided insight into the ongoing transition process.

One insider expressed skepticism about the actual implementation of mass firings at the Pentagon.

It’s also uncertain whether Trump himself would fully support this strategy. Previously, he has criticized defense leaders openly, particularly those who have spoken against him, and during his campaign, he talked about firing “woke” generals and those behind the contentious withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

The Trump campaign was unavailable for immediate comment on this situation.

According to the second source, the new administration is expected to focus on military officers affiliated with Mark Milley, Trump’s former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Milley has recently been quoted in the book “War” by Bob Woodward, released last month, where he referred to Trump as having “fascist” tendencies. As a result, Trump’s allies have viewed him as disloyal.

“Every single person who was promoted or appointed by Milley will be dismissed,” the second source claimed.

“There exists a comprehensive list of all individuals associated with Milley, and they will all be shown the door.”

The Joint Chiefs of Staff encompass the highest-ranking officials in the U.S. military, including leaders from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, National Guard, and Space Force.

News of the anticipated dismissals follows Trump’s choice of Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator and military veteran, as his defense secretary. Hegseth has indicated a readiness to impose significant changes at the Pentagon.

“The next president needs to significantly revamp Pentagon senior leadership to effectively defend our nation and tackle adversaries. Numerous individuals need to be let go,” Hegseth stated in his 2024 book “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.”

It remains uncertain if Hegseth’s lack of management experience might hinder his Senate confirmation and whether a more conventional choice for defense secretary would pursue such extensive terminations.

General Brown Among Possible Initial Targets

Hegseth has also criticized Milley’s successor, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, questioning whether his appointment was influenced by his race.

“Was it his race that secured his position? Or his competence? We’ll likely never know, which feels unjust to CQ. However, considering he has made race one of his primary issues, it somewhat overshadows his merits,” he remarked.

The first source aware of the transition plans indicated Brown would be among those likely to be dismissed.

“All chiefs and vice chiefs of the Joint Chiefs will be fired immediately,” stated the source, while clarifying that these plans are in the early stages.

Some current and former U.S. officials have downplayed the chances of such a sweeping overhaul, arguing it would be disruptive and unnecessary given the current global instability, including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The first source cautioned that executing a mass dismissal and replacing numerous senior military officials would be bureaucratically challenging, suggesting these planning discussions may simply be filled with rhetoric and posturing from Trump’s team.

Nevertheless, the second source indicated that the Trump camp believes the Joint Chiefs of Staff needs to be downsized due to what they see as bureaucratic overreach.

Such revisions could be absorbed within an organization as vast as the U.S. military, according to the source.

“These individuals are not indispensable. There’s a lot of talent ready to step in,” the source asserted. “During World War II, we rapidly appointed capable individuals in their 30s as generals, and you know what? We emerged victorious.”