Trump moves to create ‘warrior board’ of retired generals to remove ‘woke’ military leaders: report

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the board’s goal would be to identify and potentially remove military leaders deemed unfit for command, with a focus on eliminating so-called "woke" generals as Trump has previously mentioned.

If approved, the move would accelerate the dismissal of generals and admirals found to be “lacking in requisite leadership qualities.” Trump, who has publicly criticized military leaders for prioritizing issues such as DEI over military preparedness, has argued for reforms following shameful events like the botched 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal that led to the deaths of 13 US military members.

As commander in chief, Trump would have the ability to fire any officer at will. However, the proposed board would be empowered to assess “leadership capability, strategic readiness, and commitment to military excellence" and issue recommendations for removal. Those deemed unfit would be retired within 30 days.

By bypassing the Pentagon’s traditional promotion and removal processes, the plan would mark a significant restructuring of military leadership oversight. Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, would likely play a role in implementing the board’s findings if confirmed. Hegseth has been an outspoken critic of Pentagon leaders who prioritize “woke” policies.

While the Trump camp has not formally commented on the draft order, transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt emphasized that “The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver.”

A source cited by the Wall Street Journal indicated that Trump’s team aims to see major reforms within the Defense Department.

“It’s gotten way too big,” the source said. “Trump also expects that many of the generals, the three- and four-star generals that have been underperforming will basically be retired.”

The concept of a warrior board mirrors historical precedent. In 1940, General George C. Marshall created a “plucking board” led by retired general officers to review files of serving senior officers and “remove from line promotion any officer for reasons deemed good and sufficient.”