Defense & National Security Newsletter

Biden defense secretary calls Hegseth’s officers purge concerning

by Filip Timotija - 04/10/26 6:58 PM ET

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by Filip Timotija - 04/10/26 6:58 PM ET

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The Big Story

Lloyd Austin raises alarm on Hegseth’s officers purge

Former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s purge of senior military officers is worrisome, adding that the U.S. cannot achieve regime change in Iran without placing boots on the ground.

Austin weighed in on current Hegseth’s purge of senior military officers, saying the firings “concern” him. He praised the personnel as “experienced professionals that have earned their right to occupy” those roles.

“They were the best people available to fill those positions, and when they walk out the door, they take with them an incredible amount of experience and sound leadership that I worry about,” Austin said in a Thursday interview with ABC News, his first televised interview since leaving the post.

“Now clearly, there are others that can, that will fill the spaces, but knowing all of these officers personally, I can tell you that we’ve seen some really fine officers depart,” Austin told host Juju Chang.

Austin’s remarks come a week after Hegseth ousted the Army’s chief of staff, Gen. Randy George, a widely respected military leader. Since taking charge of the Pentagon, Hegseth has fired more than a dozen senior military officers, including the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife.

Austin, the head of the Pentagon during the Biden administration, said regime change in Iran wouldn’t be achievable without placing troops on the ground there.

“If you really want to see a regime change, then work needs to have been done with elements in country … so that they’re ready to take — fill the vacuum when there is an absence of leadership,” Austin said.

But he also said he wouldn’t advise President Trump to place boots on the ground inside Iran.

Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I’m Filip Timotija — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.

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