Space Force commander ousted after rebuke of VP Vance’s Greenland remarks

Col. Susan Meyers, commander of the US Space Force’s Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, was relieved of duty Thursday after an internal email distancing her unit from Vice President JD Vance’s controversial remarks prompted swift disciplinary action from the Pentagon.

The Space Force said Meyers was fired “for loss of confidence in her ability to lead,” citing the military’s expectation that commanders remain strictly nonpartisan. Meyers had led the 821st Space Base Group since July 2024.

According to Military.com, Meyers’ 31 March message to Pituffik personnel expressed concern over Vance’s visit and emphasized solidarity with international partners. “The concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance... are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base,” she wrote.

Vance’s comments on 28 March accusing Denmark of failing Greenland sparked backlash from Danish officials, who called his tone inappropriate for addressing allies. Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory, is seen as strategically vital for its rare earth reserves and Arctic location.

In a post on X, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell wrote that “actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated,” sharing news of Meyers’ dismissal.