This archive report was first published on 26 November 2019.
US President Donald Trump's frequent interventions in military policy have raised concerns about the Pentagon's leadership and decision-making process.
On November 25, 2019, Trump fired Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, who had challenged the President's decision to reverse the demotion of Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher. This move was seen as a sign of the US military's struggle with Trump's off-the-cuff, highly political micromanagement.
Defence experts have expressed concerns that Trump's interventions could undermine the Pentagon's leadership and send dangerous signals to troops on the ground and to US allies overseas.
"The senior military leadership is in a really difficult position," said Mara Karlin, Director of Strategic Studies at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. "In terms of civil-military relations, what has been happening with the president is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue, it's a dysfunctionality issue."
Trump's interventions in military affairs have been numerous, including his decision to withdraw US troops from Syria and Afghanistan, his rejection of the Pentagon's plans to demote Gallagher, and his support for a massive parade of military hardware. These moves have been driven by domestic political considerations rather than strategic rationale, and have been opposed by the Pentagon leadership.
"It's important that we don't see these as discreet. There is one example after another," said Karlin.
Analysts have expressed concerns that Trump's actions could lead to a loss of trust, effectiveness, and the ability to retain top talent in the Pentagon. They have also raised questions about the decision-making process in the Pentagon and the ability of US partners and adversaries to trust the US military's leadership.
