General Discussion

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and the Trump administration have removed several top-ranking female military officers from their commands, including all four-star female generals and admirals who were in active duty at the beginning of 2025. The exact total number is not publicly provided, but reports confirm the removal of multiple high-profile leaders.

Confirmed removals from top leadership positions include:

Adm. Linda Fagan: The first female commandant of the Coast Guard, she was fired hours after President Trump's inauguration in January 2025.
Adm. Lisa Franchetti: The first female Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), she was ousted in February 2025.
Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield: The Navy's top officer at NATO headquarters, she was dismissed in April 2025. She had previously been the first woman to lead the U.S. Naval War College.
Lt. Gen. Jennifer Short: The senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense, she was removed without explanation at the same time as Adm. Franchetti.
Rear Adm. Yvette Davids: The first woman to lead the U.S. Naval Academy, she was reassigned from her post well short of her typical three-year tenure.

An unnamed Navy Captain, the first woman to serve as a troop commander with the elite SEAL Team Six, was reportedly pushed out of the military and blocked from a historic command role.

These removals have been widely reported as a "purge" of female leaders, a trend that began with the new administration's focus on warfighting and an end to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the military.