Summarised by Centrist
Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, the only woman on NATO’s military committee, was dismissed over the weekend by the Trump administration.
No formal reason was given, but US officials suggest the decision stemmed from Chatfield’s prior support for diversity initiatives, which drew criticism from conservative watchdogs.
The firing follows similar dismissals of other senior women in uniform since President Trump’s second term began, including Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan and Navy chief Lisa Franchetti. The moves are part of a wider campaign led by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the U.S. military.
Chatfield was among a list of officers labelled “woke” by the American Accountability Foundation, which urged her removal. The group cited her past statements like “our diversity is our strength” and her participation in events such as Women’s Equality Day. Hegseth and others have described such messaging as incompatible with the administration’s focus on “lethality” and merit-based leadership.
Chatfield, a decorated Navy helicopter pilot and Bronze Star recipient, had previously led missions in Afghanistan and served as a senior aide to NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander.
Supporters say it marks a course correction toward military readiness, free from what they see as politicised social engineering.
The Trump administration has signalled it will continue replacing leaders tied to DEI agendas and removing associated training, websites, and materials across all service branches.
Editor’s note: NZ Defense Minister Judith Collins has pushed back against critics who say Captain Yvonne Gray of the ill-fated HMNZS Manawanui was “not there for being a female.”
A recent report suggests the ship was lost after the crew failed to disengage autopilot, leading to it grounding on a reef during a mission they were not trained to carry out.
Read more over at Associated Press
