“My concerns regarding Mr. Patel arise from his previous political actions and the potential effect they might have on his leadership,” stated Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican from Alaska, in a post on X. Ms. Murkowski opposed his appointment, asserting, “The F.B.I. must be trusted as the federal agency tasked with combating crime and corruption, rather than being used to settle political vendettas.”
Congress deliberately designed the term for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs to span multiple presidential administrations, both to maintain continuity and to safeguard institutional knowledge. Recently, Mr. Trump has appointed Dan Caine, a retired Air Force lieutenant general, to head the Joint Chiefs. Mr. Caine is an unconventional selection due to his retirement status and lower rank compared to previous chairpersons, as well as the endorsements Mr. Trump has given him in earlier speeches. “‘I love you, sir. I think you’re fantastic, sir. I’d do anything for you, sir,’” Mr. Trump has quoted General Caine as saying.
As General Brown was being removed from his position, Mr. Hegseth also took steps to replace the military’s top judge advocates general — the leading lawyers for the Air Force, Navy, and Army — in addition to the first woman to oversee the Navy and the vice chief of staff of the Air Force. Rosa Brooks, a professor at Georgetown Law and an expert in national security, commented on X, “This is the kind of action you take when you plan to act unlawfully: You remove any lawyers who might hinder your progress.”
This action mirrors Mr. Trump’s previous firings of inspectors general across several executive departments, as well as the leaders of the Office of Government Ethics and the Office of Special Counsel, which handles whistleblower complaints. After facing obstacles during his first term, the president is swiftly moving to mute any lawyers or executive branch officials who might disagree with his ambitious plans, which often brink on the edges of constitutional law and established practice.
Mr. Trump has the authority to select the advisors he wants by his side. However, with each appointment, the president prioritizes loyalty and the expectation of allegiance over expertise, qualifications, and a proven history of sound, independent judgment concerning the agencies they direct. The American public has little reason to believe that these agency leaders are operating in their best interests rather than those of the president. Consequently, this results in a leadership group that reflects Mr. Trump’s perspective, ultimately undermining broader democratic values.
