On Friday, October 3, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Navy Chief of Staff Jon Harrison from his position, a move that impacts a key figure who had driven major reforms in the service’s administrative and policy sectors.
Appointed in January 2025, Harrison held considerable influence in a role generally seen as behind-the-scenes. Collaborating with Navy Secretary John Phelan, Harrison executed extensive changes in the Navy’s policy and budgeting departments and worked to curtail the undersecretary’s influence.
The Pentagon confirmed his firing in a statement, stating that “he will no longer serve as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Navy” and thanked him for his contributions to the department.
This decision came shortly after the Senate approved Hung Cao as Navy undersecretary earlier in the week. Cao, a Navy veteran and former Republican Senate candidate from Virginia, was appointed by President Donald Trump.
Reports indicate that Harrison and Phelan had reassigned several senior aides meant to assist Cao in transitioning to his new role. They also intended to oversee interviews for future military assistants for Cao, ensuring critical decisions were made from the secretary’s office rather than the undersecretary’s.
Neither Harrison nor Phelan had military backgrounds prior to their appointments. Phelan, a significant donor to Trump’s campaign, was confirmed as Navy secretary in March 2025.
Harrison’s dismissal is part of a broader pattern of changes in military leadership under Hegseth. In May 2025, he directed a 20 percent reduction in the number of four-star generals and admirals. Since January, Hegseth and Trump have replaced over six senior generals, including the only two women serving as four-star officers.
In February 2025, Hegseth and Trump also removed Air Force General C.Q. Brown Jr., the second Black chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other uniformed leaders from the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard have also been dismissed.
Earlier this week, Hegseth addressed senior military leaders with a speech critiquing diversity and inclusion policies, stating that the defense department had become what he termed the “woke department.” The speech, from Hegseth, a former Fox News host, was met with criticism from many veterans.
These leadership changes align with Trump’s commitment to revitalizing the American shipbuilding sector. Despite this, the Navy’s key programs are significantly delayed, and both allies and competitors are surpassing the output of U.S. shipyards.
In Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday, September 30, Trump indicated a willingness to dismiss senior military officials who did not meet his standards. He told reporters, “If I don’t like somebody’s performance, I will fire them on the spot.”
Hegseth has also issued directives regarding service members’ physical fitness, including grooming standards and maintaining a healthy weight. He has criticized what he described as “woke policies” and urged leaders to tackle what he sees as systemic issues within the military.
The removal of Harrison follows significant organizational changes at the Pentagon under the current administration. These dismissals have affected various military branches and leadership levels, indicating a shift in military leadership priorities and administrative strategies under the new defense leadership.
Harrison did not comment on his departure. Traditionally, the Navy secretary’s chief of staff ensures smooth office operations, but Harrison’s time in the role was marked by an expanded influence over policy and organizational restructuring.
