During his re-election campaign, Donald Trump pledged to eliminate what he termed “woke” generals from the military. As he prepares to assume the presidency again, there is growing speculation within the Pentagon regarding the extent of his potential actions.

In his anticipated second term, Trump is likely to adopt a more critical stance towards his military leadership, particularly after experiencing pushback from the Pentagon on issues ranging from his doubts about NATO to his willingness to send troops to manage domestic protests.

Many of Trump’s former generals and defense secretaries have emerged as some of his most vocal opponents, with some labeling him a fascist and questioning his suitability for the presidency. In response to their criticism, Trump has even suggested that Mark Milley, his former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, could face execution for treason.

Current and former officials indicate that loyalty will be a key focus for Trump in his second term, as he seeks to identify and remove military personnel and career civil servants whom he views as disloyal.

Jack Reed, the Democratic chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed concern, stating, “He will dismantle the Department of Defense, to be frank. He will enter and remove generals who uphold the Constitution.”

Issues related to cultural conflicts may serve as a catalyst for potential dismissals. In June, Trump was questioned by Fox News about whether he would terminate generals labeled as “woke,” a term used by conservatives to criticize those advocating for racial and social justice.

“I would dismiss them. A military cannot be ‘woke,'” Trump responded.

There are apprehensions among current and former officials that Trump’s administration might target the current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown. He is a highly regarded former fighter pilot and military leader known for maintaining a non-political stance.

General Brown, who is Black, released a video addressing discrimination within the military shortly after the murder of George Floyd in May 2020 and has actively supported diversity initiatives in the U.S. armed forces.

Brown’s spokesperson, Navy Captain Jereal Dorsey, stated, “The chairman and all service members in our armed forces are dedicated to the security and defense of our nation and will maintain this commitment as we transition to the new administration of President-elect Trump.”

J.D. Vance, Trump’s vice president-elect, previously voted against Brown’s confirmation as the top U.S. military officer during his tenure as a senator and has expressed concerns regarding what he perceives as resistance to Trump’s directives within the Pentagon.

In an interview with Tucker Carlson prior to the election, Vance remarked, “If individuals within your own government are not following your orders, you must replace them with those who will support the president’s agenda.”

Throughout the campaign, Trump promised to reinstate the name of a Confederate general at a significant U.S. military base, reversing a decision made following the death of George Floyd.

Trump’s campaign prominently featured anti-woke rhetoric, particularly targeting transgender service members. He has previously implemented a ban on transgender individuals serving in the military and released a campaign advertisement on X that depicted them as weak, asserting, “WE WILL NOT HAVE A WOKE MILITARY!”

The Trump transition team has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.

Lawful Orders

Trump has indicated that the U.S. military could play a significant role in various aspects of his policy agenda, including utilizing the National Guard and potentially active-duty personnel for mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and addressing domestic disturbances.

Such suggestions have raised concerns among military analysts, who argue that deploying the military within the United States could not only breach legal statutes but also alienate a large segment of the American populace from the generally esteemed U.S. armed forces.

In a communication to military personnel following Trump’s electoral victory, outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin recognized the election outcome and emphasized that the military would adhere to “all lawful orders” issued by civilian authorities.

However, some analysts warn that Trump possesses considerable discretion in interpreting legal frameworks, and U.S. troops are obligated to follow legal orders, even if they perceive them as ethically questionable.

“There is a prevalent misunderstanding among the public that military personnel can refuse to follow immoral orders, which is not accurate,” stated Kori Schake from the conservative American Enterprise Institute. Schake cautioned that a second term for Trump could lead to significant personnel changes as he advances contentious policies.

“I anticipate considerable turmoil during a second Trump administration, both due to the initiatives he will pursue and the individuals he will appoint to implement them,” she remarked.

A U.S. military official, speaking anonymously, minimized these worries, asserting that instigating disorder within the military’s command structure would provoke political repercussions and would be unnecessary for Trump to achieve his objectives.

“What these individuals will discover is that military leaders are primarily focused on combat readiness rather than political matters,” the official noted. “I believe they will come to terms with that—at least they ought to.”

Civil servants at the Pentagon may face loyalty assessments

Current and former officials indicate that career civil servants at the Pentagon may face loyalty assessments. Allies of Trump have openly supported the idea of utilizing executive orders and regulatory changes to replace numerous civil servants with those aligned with conservative ideologies.

A senior defense official, who requested anonymity, informed Reuters of growing apprehension within the Pentagon regarding the possibility of Trump removing career civilian staff from the department. “I have significant worries about their positions,” the official remarked, noting that several colleagues have voiced similar concerns about job security.

Career civil servants represent a substantial portion of the nearly 950,000 non-uniformed personnel employed by the U.S. military, many of whom possess extensive specialized knowledge.

During his campaign, Trump pledged to empower himself to significantly reduce the federal workforce across various government sectors.

In his first term, some of Trump’s more controversial proposals, such as the idea of launching missiles into Mexico to target drug laboratories, did not materialize into policy, largely due to resistance from Pentagon officials.

“This situation will be like 2016 amplified, and there is a fear that he will dismantle the ranks and expertise in a manner that could cause irreversible harm to the Pentagon,” the official stated.