Retired Air Force Gen. Charles Q.
Brown Jr. has criticized the use of the American military for political missions, specifically targeting the deployment of troops to handle domestic crime.
In an op-ed published Friday, July 3, 2026, in Foreign Affairs, Brown and co-authors Peter Feaver and Andrew Kragie argued that using the armed forces for politically contentious missions like addressing domestic crime makes military work more fraught.
The former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was dismissed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth last year, wrote that resorting to a military solution rather than fixing civilian institutional shortfalls diverts focus from essential combat training and defense preparations.
The op-ed cautioned that overextending the military's operational mandate could fundamentally destabilize the institution. “It is not the military’s job to save the republic from political impasses.
Indeed, if you ask too much of the military, you risk the entire enterprise,” the authors wrote.
Brown, the second Black man to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was removed in February 2025 alongside Admiral Lisa Franchetti amid an administration ban on diversity initiatives, according to CNN.
Speaking at the Aspen Ideas Festival last week, Brown expressed concern over the impact of high-level dismissals on remaining personnel.
“It’s important we understand that all these people that are being removed are very well experienced and my concern is the impact it has on those that are still continuing to serve,” he said.
Brown questioned whether qualified personnel would have fair opportunities for professional advancement under current administrative criteria.
The op-ed also reflected on national unity during the 250th anniversary celebrations of the United States.
“Patriotism means recognizing the promise of America’s founding, the progress of its past, and the potential of a shared future,” the authors wrote.
They emphasized that service to a cause greater than oneself is accessible to all citizens, regardless of military status.
The authors called on Americans to use the historic milestone to strengthen national cohesion and community interdependence.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the domestic use of the National Guard on Thursday, following deployments to cities like Washington, DC, and Los Angeles.
Hegseth maintained that the missions focus strictly on public safety, asserting that law and order is something all Americans deserve.
