John Ullyot stepped down as the Pentagon's top spokesperson amid controversy over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's handling of diversity initiatives and a probe into internal leaks. His exit, framed as voluntary by Ullyot but disputed by officials, exposes growing tension within the Defense Department regarding DEI strategy and leadership practices.
President Trump's firing of Gen. CQ Brown as Joint Chiefs chairman sent shockwaves through military circles, linking the move to his campaign against diversity initiatives. The dismissal of two senior leaders, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti, drew bipartisan criticism about political interference in military appointments, amid concerns over the principles of civilian-military relations.