National Security Leaders for America Condemns Firing of Senior Military Officers

February 22, 2025

Note: On February 27, 2025, five former Defense Secretaries, including two NSL4A members, released a letter to Congress raising alarm regarding the recent firings.

Read their statement: Appeal to the Congress from Former Secretaries of Defense

Washington, DC, National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A) Founder and President, retired Rear Admiral Mike Smith, issued the following statement regarding the announced firings of several senior military officers without cause, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the Chief of Naval Operations, the Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, and the Judge Advocates General of the Army, Navy, and Air Force:

“National Security Leaders for America strongly condemns the removal of senior military officers without just cause. Our military's strength, effectiveness, and readiness depend on maintaining a professional and apolitical force. Removing experienced leaders with meritorious records weakens the force and emboldens America’s enemies. 

Our constitution requires the military to unquestionably follow the lawful orders of the serving President, irrespective of personal beliefs or the administration in power. Senior military leadership must implement a range of policies that inevitably change from one administration to the next.  This purge of senior leadership, however, will force current and future military leaders to consider whether following a lawful order today will get them fired by a future president, creating immense tension in the chain of command. 

Worse yet, the removal of these senior leaders tells everyone in our military, and everyone who one day wants to serve their country, that merit and character matter less than partisanship.  Politicizing our military will cripple recruiting, prevent the best soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen from rising to leadership, and fray the mutual trust between the military and the American people that it serves.  

We urge policymakers, elected officials, and the American public to reject efforts to politicize our military. The defense of our great nation requires military leaders beholden to the Constitution who unquestionably follow the lawful orders of the President.  Undermining that foundation for political expediency will weaken our military and, ultimately, our nation.”