Pentagon shakeup could signal shift toward covert operations, less oversight, reports Defense One

President Trump’s sweeping overhaul of Pentagon leadership, including the nomination of retired Lt. Gen. John Caine as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggests a shift toward irregular warfare and covert operations with fewer legal constraints and less congressional oversight. Defense One reports the abrupt dismissal of Gen. CQ Brown and the planned removal of top military lawyers raise concerns that the administration is eliminating legal barriers to expanded clandestine military action.

Caine, a former Air Force officer with deep special operations and intelligence ties, played key roles in counterterrorism efforts and was instrumental in the 2019 defeat of ISIS. His appointment, along with other Trump loyalists in national security positions, signals a preference for agile, secret operations over traditional broadly authorized military deployments.

Critics warn that these moves could allow Trump to sidestep legal checks under Titles 50 and 18, governing national defense and the federal criminal code, respectively, such as by pursuing military action against Mexican drug cartels, which his administration has labeled as terrorist organizations. The removal of key legal officials could foreshadow the administration's interpreting presidential war powers more broadly.

Supporters argue that the shift aligns with modern security needs, emphasizing rapid response capabilities in an era of unconventional threats.