A three-star general on the Pentagon’s Joint Staff has been forced out after months of sustained tensions with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to exclusive reports. Lt. Gen. Joe McGee’s departure underscores ongoing conflicts within the military leadership under the new administration, highlighting concerns over political influence on strategic decisions.
Lt. Gen. Joe McGee, who served as the director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy on the Joint Staff, left his position earlier this month following internal discussions about his role. Sources familiar with the matter reported that McGee had frequently clashed with Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine over various strategic issues. These disagreements included U.S. military involvement in Ukraine and operations targeting drug traffickers in the Caribbean, where McGee was perceived as moving too slowly by the new leadership. His primary responsibility was to advise on long-term military strategy and crisis contingencies, a role he held for nearly three years.
McGee’s stalled promotion also played a role in his early retirement; he was nominated by former President Joe Biden for a promotion to director of the Joint Staff almost a year ago, but the nomination was never advanced under the current Trump administration. Sources indicated that McGee had “pushed back” against Hegseth and Caine on multiple occasions, leading to frustrations among top officials who believed he was not aligned with their agenda. One source noted that McGee “has had a target on his back for a while now,” with discussions about removing him beginning as early as the spring.
The tensions extended beyond McGee, as Hegseth has pushed out more than a dozen senior military officials since taking office in January, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs CQ Brown and the Chief of Naval Operations. Many of these officials were suspected of being insufficiently aligned with Hegseth’s policies, such as accelerated military actions in regions like the Caribbean. In McGee’s case, some in the Office of the Secretary of Defense viewed him as too close to the “old guard” of the Pentagon, including former leaders like Gen. Mark Milley and Lloyd Austin, which exacerbated the divide.
Despite the reports of friction, the Pentagon has publicly denied any clash between Hegseth and McGee. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that “General McGee is retiring, and the war department is grateful for his service,” while a Joint Staff spokesperson emphasized McGee’s 35 years of honorable service and criticized anonymous sources for diverting attention from his contributions. They called it “regrettable” that the focus was shifted away from his dedication, underscoring the official narrative of a routine retirement.
This series of dismissals raises broader concerns about the politicization of the U.S. military and its impact on strategic decision-making. Experts warn that replacing experienced leaders with those more aligned politically could undermine military effectiveness and morale, particularly in handling global crises. The ongoing reshuffling may affect how the Pentagon approaches long-term planning in volatile regions, potentially altering U.S. responses to international threats and alliances.
As McGee steps down, attention turns to who will fill his role and how the new leadership will navigate these tensions. The event highlights the challenges of maintaining military professionalism amid political changes, with implications for U.S. national security and international relations. Moving forward, the continued purge of senior officials could signal a shift in military strategy, requiring careful monitoring to ensure stability and readiness in an increasingly complex global landscape.