Retired senior military officers are raising serious concerns about the operational readiness of the United States armed forces following an unprecedented wave of firings ordered under War Secretary Pete Hegseth, with one veteran comparing the dismissals to the Soviet purges carried out by Joseph Stalin before the Second World War.
Since President Donald Trump returned to office in January last year, Hegseth has fired or forcibly retired 24 generals and senior commanders, according to a Guardian investigation published Sunday. No performance-related justification has been given for any of the removals. Approximately 60 per cent of those pushed out have been Black or female officers, a pattern critics say reflects the administration's broader campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within the armed forces.
