In a significant shift at the Department of Defense, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has dismissed Navy Chief of Staff Jon Harrison. The reasons for Harrison’s removal remain unclear, with limited details provided by officials.
The move follows the Senate confirmation of Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao, as reported by Politico. Harrison had reportedly sought to curtail the authority of the undersecretary role, according to two defense officials and a former official. A Pentagon statement acknowledged Harrison’s departure, stating, “He will no longer serve as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Navy,” while expressing gratitude for his service.
Harrison, a Trump-era appointee who joined the Navy in January, held an unusually influential position despite the role typically being administrative. He and Navy Secretary John Phelan implemented sweeping changes to the Navy’s policy and budgeting structures, aiming to diminish the undersecretary’s power. This included reassigning aides meant to support Cao and planning to vet future military assistants for the undersecretary to ensure decisions originated from the secretary’s office.
Harrison’s dismissal is part of a broader purge under Hegseth, who has targeted multiple high-ranking Navy officials. Notable exits include Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations; Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore, Chief of the Navy Reserve; and Rear Admiral Milton Sands, Commander of Naval Special Warfare Command. The most prominent removal was General Charles Q. Brown Jr., the first Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who served from May 2023 to February 2025.