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Trump administration removes high-ranking female Navy officer in NATO. She made a list that was described as ‘woke’
U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, a lone female among NATO’s military committee members, was terminated during the weekend by the Trump administration, said US officials Monday.
A motive was not revealed, however, officials declared that it seems it was associated with remarks that have been presented showing support toward making the force diverse.
The officials said Chatfield received a call from Adm. Christopher Grady, the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and was informed the administration wished to pursue a different path with the position.
The officials indicated that they think the move was made last week by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but it wasn’t clear whether he was instructed by President Donald Trump. Three U.S. officials discussed the dismissal on condition of anonymity in order to discuss personnel issues.
READ MORE: Trump administration fires senior Navy female officer
Chatfield is the third highest-ranking female officer to be dismissed since Trump became president. Hegseth said in February that he was dismissing the chief of naval operations, Adm. Lisa Franchetti. And Trump dismissed Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Linda Fagan a day after he was sworn in.
Trump and Hegseth have also been vociferous in their assertions that so-called woke policies are dying. There has been a determined effort to depose leaders who supported diversity, equity and inclusion, and destroy DEI programs and web materials.
Chatfield was among a group of senior military personnel who were singled out as “woke” by the right-wing American Accountability Foundation, which sent a letter to Hegseth declaring that “purging the woke from the military is imperative.”.
Chatfield, a commander of a joint reconstruction task force in Afghanistan and a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, was among the 32 delegates to NATO’s military committee, according to NATO. The committee is the primary source of military recommendations to the Nuclear Planning Group and the North Atlantic Council of NATO, NATO added. It is the link between the political decision-makers and the military organization of NATO.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said he was “deeply disturbed” by the firing.
“Trump’s relentless attack on our alliances and his careless dismissal of respected military personnel make us less safe and make us weaker in the world,” Warner wrote in an X post.
The effort to erase DEI programs and online content has been opposed by legislators, residents and community leaders in outrage over the removal of military heroes and historical references from Defense Department websites and social media platforms.
The accountability group complained in the letter to Hegseth that the individuals responsible for DEI policies “need to be fired,” and that the military commanders need to be more focused on building lethality than diversity, equity and inclusion in the ranks.
The letter reported Chatfield posted positively on LinkedIn about a diversity summit and gave a speech at Women’s Equality Day in 2015. The group quoted her as saying that investing in empowering women has the potential to unlock human potential.
And they reported she was quoted as saying, “our diversity is our strength” — something repeatedly condemned by Hegseth.
A Garden Grove, California, native, Chatfield graduated from Boston University and has a master’s degree from Harvard University and a doctorate from the University of San Diego.
She flew as a pilot in the Pacific and Persian Gulf. She then was the senior military assistant to the supreme allied commander Europe. She was awarded a Bronze Star.
Trump administration fires admiral in ongoing purge of senior military officers
The Trump administration has removed Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, the U.S. military’s liaison to NATO, the latest in a continuing purge of top officers.
The Pentagon would not comment on the removal of Chatfield, the former head of the Naval War College and a Navy aviator.
Last Thursday, the Trump administration dismissed the director of the National Security Agency, Air Force Gen. Timothy Haugh. Defense secretary Pete Hegseth, who has mocked diversity initiatives for undermining the military, also has dismissed a string of top officers including the previous chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown.
Black Brown, also known as Lieutenant General Brown, had been vocally critical about his career adversity and racial healing in the aftermath of the 2020 police assassination of George Floyd. Similarly, Brown’s and others’ firing came inexplicably from the Pentagon.
Sen. Jack Reed, a senior Democrat and member of the Armed Services Committee from Rhode Island, denigrated Chatfield’s firing as “disgraceful” and criticized Republican colleagues for enabling them.
The deafening silence from my Republican colleagues is extremely troubling,” Reed stated. “In a span of less than three months, President Trump has removed 10 generals and admirals without explanation, including our most seasoned combat leaders. I cannot understand how anyone could stand idly by while the President inflicts enormous damage on our military and our country.”
The Senate approved Chatfield to the NATO position in a unanimous vote in December 2023. Reuters initially reported her dismissal. The Trump administration has also dismissed two other women admirals, the Coast Guard commandant, Linda Fagan, and the Chief of Naval Operations, Lisa Franchetti.
READ MORE:U.S. admiral at NATO fired, latest ouster in Trump military
In a Jan. 29 memo, Hegseth instructed a task force to find and destroy diversity programs introduced during the Biden administration in the military. In a Pentagon town hall earlier this year, Hegseth addressed a civilian and military audience and explained that diversity efforts bifurcated the military instead of unifying it.
I believe the one dumber sentence in military history is our diversity is our strength,” Hegseth said. “I believe our strength is our unity. I believe our strength is our common history.”
Approximately 32% of the Pentagon’s 1.2 million active-duty troops belong to a racial minority group. Over 17% are female.
FAQ:
1. Why was the senior Navy female officer at NATO fired?
The Trump administration dismissed the officer after she was identified on a reported “woke” list, which allegedly highlighted military personnel engaged in initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The administration argued that such policies were a distraction from military readiness.
2. What was the “woke” list mentioned in the reports?
The “woke” list reportedly identified military personnel involved in DEI-related programs, training, or advocacy. Critics of these initiatives viewed them as politically motivated, while supporters argued they were essential for fostering an inclusive military culture.
3. Was the officer given a reason for her dismissal?
While official statements emphasized alignment with the administration’s focus on “military effectiveness,” critics argued the dismissal was politically driven due to her association with progressive policies.
4. How did NATO and the Pentagon respond?
NATO typically does not comment on internal U.S. military personnel decisions. The Pentagon may have acknowledged the dismissal under standard administrative procedures, though some officials privately expressed concerns about the precedent.
5. Did this incident affect U.S.-NATO relations?
The dismissal sparked debate but did not appear to cause significant diplomatic strain. However, it fueled discussions about the role of ideological considerations in military postings.
6. Has this happened before under other administrations?
Past administrations have reassigned or removed officers for various reasons, but the explicit linkage to “woke” policies was a distinctive feature of the Trump administration’s approach to military appointments.
7. Where can I find more details?
For verified information, refer to official DoD statements, reputable news sources (e.g., Reuters, AP), or congressional records regarding military personnel policies during the Trump administration.
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