SEN TAMMY DUCKWORTH: Why Trump's pattern of purging our highest-performing military officers is dangerous

"Our standards will be high, uncompromising and clear." --Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Message to the Force, January 25, 2025

President Donald Trump’s pick for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lieutenant General (LTG) Dan Caine (retired), possesses an extraordinary record of service—in Iraq, in special access programs and in the National Guard. There is no question of his capacity to lead, devotion to our country, character, courage or competence.

But those aren’t...