Trump team compiles list of Pentagon officers to transfer

Members of US President-elect Donald Trump's transition team are drawing up a list of military officers to be transferred, potentially including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in an unprecedented shake-up at the Pentagon, Reuters reported.

There could be a major shake-up in the Pentagon when Mr. Trump officially returns to the White House. (Photo: TNS)

The reform plan is in its early stages after Mr. Trump’s election victory and could change as the Trump administration takes shape, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

It is unclear whether Mr Trump himself would endorse the plan, having previously been highly critical of defence leaders who have criticised him.

Mr Trump talked during the campaign about firing “wrong” generals and those responsible for a troubled withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Mr. Trump's campaign has not commented on the above information.

Another source told Reuters the new administration is likely to focus on US military officers seen as having ties to Mark Milley, Mr Trump's former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

In Bob Woodward's book "War" published last month, General Milley was quoted calling Mr. Trump a "fascist" and saying that Mr. Trump's allies targeted him because they thought he was disloyal to the former president.

"There is a very detailed list of everyone who has contact with Mr. Milley. Every individual promoted and appointed by Mr. Milley will leave," the source said.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff includes the highest-ranking officers in the US military and the leaders of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, National Guard and Space Force.

The news of the planned firings of senior leaders of the US armed forces came a day after Mr. Trump announced his choice of Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator and veteran, as defense secretary. Mr. Hegseth expressed his willingness to reform the Pentagon.

Mr Hegseth is also said to be targeting Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Mr Milley’s successor. A source told Reuters that Mr Brown would be one of several officers to leave.

However, some current and former US officials have downplayed the likelihood of such a major overhaul, arguing that it would be unnecessary and disruptive at a time of global turmoil with ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

One of the sources said it would be administratively difficult to fire and replace such a large number of senior US military officials, suggesting the plan could be little more than a threat and show from Mr Trump's allies.

Meanwhile, another source said Mr Trump’s team believes the Joint Chiefs of Staff should be downsized because of perceived bureaucracy, suggesting cuts could be made in an organisation the size of the US military.

“These people are not irreplaceable. They are easy to replace and there is no shortage of potential successors,” the source said.

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/nhom-ong-trump-lap-danh-sach-cac-si-quan-lau-nam-goc-can-chuyen-giao-ar907270.html