I'm beginning to sound like a broken record. Every time I read about SECDEF Pete Hegseth, it's more of the same insane leadership and again: he is a real risk to our national security. Over the past 24 hours, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a sweeping 20% cut in the number of four-star generals and admirals, plus additional reductions across the National Guard and other general officer ranks. This follows a string of high-profile firings since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, including the removal of Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the Navy’s top admiral, and the only two women serving as four-star officers, along with several other senior female leaders. The Pentagon hasn’t released the full list of names yet, but these are some of the most experienced leaders in the U.S. military, and their abrupt dismissal is already sending shockwaves through the ranks.
Why is this dangerous? History gives us a clear warning. When Stalin purged his senior military officers in the late 1930s, he replaced seasoned leaders with politically loyal but inexperienced ones. The result was catastrophic: the Soviet military was left unprepared for Hitler’s invasion, and countless lives were lost because critical expertise had been wiped out overnight. What we’re seeing now isn’t identical, but the parallels are impossible to ignore. Firing top generals and admirals not for cause, but because they don’t align with a political agenda, undermines the professionalism and readiness of the armed forces. It’s a move that prioritizes loyalty over competence, and it opens the door to politicizing the military in ways that threaten both our democracy and our security. This is quickly becoming the standard for the Trump administration.
But that’s not the only problem. Hegseth has also been caught up in another Signal app leak, raising serious questions about his commitment to operational security. This isn’t a minor slip-it’s a pattern. When the person at the very top is careless with sensitive information, it sets a dangerous precedent for everyone below. In today’s world, where adversaries are constantly probing for weaknesses, even one leaked conversation can put lives at risk, compromise missions, and erode trust with allies. If this becomes the new normal, it’s only a matter of time before the consequences are measured in lost lives, not just lost credibility.
We can’t afford to ignore these warning signs. Gutting senior leadership and treating operational security like an afterthought doesn’t make America safer-it does the opposite. If we let this become business as usual, we’re not just risking the careers of talented officers; we’re gambling with the safety of every service member and the security of the nation. This is a moment for Congress, the public, and the military itself to stand up and demand better before it’s too late.
