In a newly published op-ed, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown Jr. sharply criticized the use of the U.S. military for political missions, warning that such actions risk undermining the armed forces’ primary combat role. Brown, who was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in February 2025, wrote the piece alongside Duke political science professor Peter Feaver and North Carolina lawyer Andrew Kragie for Foreign Affairs.
The op-ed specifically calls out the Trump administration’s deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to major cities like Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles to address domestic crime. The authors argue that turning to the military for politically contentious tasks diverts attention from fixing underlying civilian institutional failures and places an unfair burden on service members.
“Resorting to a military solution rather than fixing the underlying incapacity or dysfunction in civilian institutions diverts the military from focusing on its primary combat mission,” the article states. “It is not the military’s job to save the republic from political impasses. Indeed, if you ask too much of the military, you risk the entire enterprise.”
Brown, the second Black man to serve as America’s most senior general, was dismissed along with Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. His firing came amid a broader administration push to ban diversity and inclusion programs across the military and government. At the Aspen Ideas Festival last week, Brown expressed concern that the ongoing firings at the Pentagon were not based on merit, potentially harming career advancement for remaining service members.
Although the op-ed does not directly name President Donald Trump, it references actions taken under his administration, including expanded military deployments. The authors also acknowledge that both Trump and former President Joe Biden had “looked to the military to play a leading role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Brown and his co-authors use the occasion of America’s 250th anniversary to reflect on patriotism, describing it as “recognizing the promise of America’s founding, the progress of its past, and the potential of a shared future.” They emphasize that service to a cause greater than oneself is accessible to all, not only those in uniform.
