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Trump Reshapes the Pentagon amid Controversy and Internal Upheaval
In the past three months, the Pentagon has undergone intense disruption under Donald Trump's direction. The U.S. president has overseen the dismissal of several top military figures, including the only female four-star general, the African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and key legal advisors within the military.
Trump appointed Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense, though Hegseth himself is facing criticism after sharing sensitive military data through unsecured Signal chat groups, notably with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. These leaks triggered a major shake-up, resulting in the firing or reassignment of at least five staff members, three of whom are under suspicion of leaking information.
Determined to rid the military of what he calls “woke” policies, Trump issued an executive order to bar transgender individuals from serving though it remains under judicial review. He also tasked Hegseth with eliminating programs that promote social and cultural diversity within the armed forces.
Further reforms are underway. A longtime critic of female integration in combat units, Hegseth has launched a comprehensive review of physical standards to enforce gender-neutral performance requirements. This sweeping overhaul could push tens of thousands of civilian employees out of the Defense Department, either through resignations or forced layoffs.
These actions are part of Trump's broader effort to reorient the U.S. military for potential major geopolitical conflicts, particularly with China. A record defense budget nearing $1 trillion is currently under consideration to support this modernization campaign.
In terms of public messaging, content celebrating diversity and the advancement of women in the military has been scrubbed from official platforms. Instead, communications now focus on increased recruitment numbers though many of these improvements stem from pre-Trump policy changes.
Meanwhile, Trump has expanded the military's role at the U.S.-Mexico border, granting troops authority to arrest migrants accused of trespassing on federal land along a narrow strip now managed by the armed forces.
