The Senate confirmed retired Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff early Friday morning, following a vote of 60 to 25. This decision came after Democrats, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), delayed Caine’s nomination in protest against President Donald Trump’s dismissal of the former military leader, Gen. C.Q. Brown Jr. The senators, who are preparing for a two-week recess, argued that Brown’s removal was unwarranted.
Despite the lack of clarity surrounding Brown’s exit, Caine garnered bipartisan support during a notably uneventful confirmation hearing, facing no significant opposition to his appointment as the senior uniformed leader of the United States military. The Senate Armed Services Committee, which oversaw the hearing, voted 23-4 to advance his nomination to the full Senate. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), the committee’s chair, urged his colleagues on Wednesday to approve Caine “without any delays,” highlighting the ongoing military expansion of China and the collaboration of adversaries against U.S. interests.
“President Trump should have the highest-ranking military officer in place without any delays,” he stated, emphasizing that Caine “sailed through” the committee’s vote, receiving an overwhelming, nearly unanimous, bipartisan endorsement. The Senate’s approval of Caine’s nomination followed Trump’s unexpected decision in February to remove seven senior officials, including Brown and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first female Chief of Naval Operations.
Democrats argued that these dismissals were part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to politicize the traditionally nonpartisan U.S. military, aiming to appoint individuals in key Department of Defense leadership roles who would align with his views. Prior to his current position, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth advocated for the removal of Brown and other “woke” generals involved in the Pentagon’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.During his confirmation hearing, Caine committed to serving in a nonpartisan capacity, emphasizing that if confirmed, he would resist any pressures from Trump.
He affirmed his dedication to upholding U.S. laws and the Constitution, expressed his readiness to resign if necessary, and indicated that he would refuse to execute any illegal orders from the president.
In his nomination of Caine, Trump remarked, “General Caine is a skilled pilot, a national security authority, a successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with extensive experience in interagency operations and special missions,” noting that Caine had been “highly qualified” for advancement but was “overlooked” by the Biden administration.
“But that will change! Together with Secretary Pete Hegseth, General Caine and our military will restore peace through strength, prioritize America’s interests, and revitalize our armed forces,” Trump continued. “Additionally, I have instructed Secretary Hegseth to seek nominations for five more senior positions, which will be announced shortly. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the committee’s ranking Democrat, stated, “I expect you to always provide your most honest military counsel to the president and the secretary of defense, even if that counsel is not what they wish to hear.”
Wicker commented, “The Chinese Communist Party is engaged in a significant military expansion, and our adversaries are increasingly uniting against the United States. It is essential for the Senate to confirm Lt. Gen. Caine as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff this week.”
