‎Defense Secretary Hegseth Fires Powerful Navy Chief of Staff Amid Leadership Reshuffle

By: Shawn
‎Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday removed Navy Chief of Staff Jon Harrison, a top aide known for wielding rare influence in the service’s internal operations. The decision comes shortly after the Senate confirmation of Navy Undersecretary Hung Cao.
‎
‎Navy Chief of Staff Jon Harrison was dismissed by Defense Secretary Hegseth following Hung Cao's confirmation and a shake-up in Pentagon leadership.
‎Andrew Harnik
‎
‎A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed Harrison’s dismissal, stating, “He will no longer serve as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Navy. We are grateful for his service to the Department.” Harrison did not offer any public comment regarding the decision.
‎
‎The role of chief of staff to the Navy secretary has traditionally operated behind the scenes, typically focused on managing logistics and administrative coordination. Since joining the Navy Department in January, Harrison had taken on an unusually prominent role in shaping policy and organizational decisions.
‎
‎As an appointee from the Trump administration, Harrison partnered closely with Navy Secretary John Phelan to restructure key elements of the Navy’s internal operations. Their initiatives included significant changes to the policy and budgeting offices and efforts to reduce the undersecretary’s influence within the department.
‎
‎Prior to Cao’s confirmation, Harrison and Phelan reassigned personnel who were initially designated to support the incoming undersecretary. They also initiated a policy to vet all future military assistants assigned to Cao’s office, signaling an intent to centralize decision-making under the secretary’s authority.
‎
‎Hung Cao, a Navy veteran and former Republican Senate candidate from Virginia, was nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed earlier this week to serve as Navy undersecretary.
‎
‎Harrison’s ouster adds to a series of high-profile leadership changes across the Pentagon this year. Defense Secretary Hegseth has already removed several top aides, including the chair of the Joint Chiefs and the uniformed heads of the Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard.

Comments

Post a Comment

TRENDING!

Donald Trump Threatens Death Penalty for Nancy Guthrie Kidnappers if Victim Is Harmed

Image
‎On Monday, President Trump warned that anyone involved in the kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie must release her unharmed or risk facing the strongest federal legal consequences. ‎ ‎Speaking briefly by phone with The Post, Trump said he would want the Justice Department to pursue the death penalty if the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” host Savannah Guthrie is killed. Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home outside Tucson on Feb. 1. ‎ ‎Trump signals the harshest federal action, including possible death penalty charges, against suspects in the kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie’s mother as search operations intensify in Arizona. ‎MediaPunch/BACKGRID ‎Trump emphasized that if she is found dead, those responsible would face “very, very severe — the most severe” federal punishment. When questioned about whether this meant federal prosecutors would seek capital punishment, Trump confirmed the possibility, saying, “The most, yeah — that’s true.” ‎ ‎On Feb. 4, Trump called Savannah Guth...
Read more

Aleksei Navalny Likely Poisoned With Rare South American Frog Toxin, European Governments Say

Image
‎Foreign ministries from Britain, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands announced in a joint statement Saturday that Russian opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny was likely poisoned by a toxin originating from a frog species found in South America. Navalny died while in prison two years earlier. ‎ ‎Joint European investigation states Alexei Navalny’s body contained epibatidine toxin, strengthening allegations surrounding his prison death in Russia. ‎James Hill/The New York Times ‎ ‎The statement said toxicology testing on biological samples from Navalny’s remains identified epibatidine, a dangerous chemical compound. ‎ ‎Authorities noted that epibatidine exists naturally in poison dart frogs from South America and is not naturally present within Russia. ‎ ‎The discovery challenges Russia’s official account that Navalny died of natural health-related causes. When he died in 2024, Navalny was considered the most prominent critic of the Russian government and was servin...
Read more

‎DHS Orders Immediate Body Camera Use for Minneapolis Immigration Agents Amid Public Backlash

Image
‎Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed Monday that every immigration officer currently deployed in Minneapolis will be required to wear a body camera. ‎ ‎According to Ms. Noem, the directive is effective immediately. She also said the Department of Homeland Security intends to extend the body camera program across the United States as soon as funding becomes available. In a social media statement, she pledged rapid acquisition and deployment of the devices for DHS law enforcement nationwide. ‎ ‎Kristi Noem announces mandatory body cameras for Minneapolis immigration officers, citing accountability concerns and outlining plans for national expansion. G‎etty Images ‎ ‎The announcement comes after growing outrage from the public and lawmakers over the aggressive strategies used by federal agents in carrying out President Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts. These concerns were intensified by conflicting official accounts of deadly shootings involving federal of...
Read more

‎Washington Man Contracts Rare H5N5 Bird Flu in First-Ever Human Case Confirmed in the U.S.

Image
‎A rare strain of bird flu known as H5N5 has infected a man in Washington state, marking the first time this subtype has been detected in a human. Health officials confirmed that the patient became “severely ill” earlier this month, presenting with high fever, confusion and respiratory distress before hospital admission. ‎ ‎A Washington man becomes the first confirmed human case of H5N5 bird flu in the U.S., prompting an investigation as health officials report low public risk. ‎RogerPhoto/stock.adobe.com ‎ ‎The Washington State Department of Health described the man as “older” with “underlying health conditions.” Officials reported that he kept a mixed backyard flock of domestic poultry at his home in Grays Harbor County on the state’s southwest Pacific coast, where his birds lived near areas accessible to wild ducks and geese. ‎ ‎Two of his domestic birds recently died, according to reporting from the Washington Post. The Department of Health stated that exposure likely c...
Read more

‎Nicolas Maduro Pleads Not Guilty to Narco-Terrorism Charges in New York Court

Image
‎Former Venezuelan ruler Nicolas Maduro entered a plea of not guilty on Monday to narco-terrorism accusations during a court appearance in Manhattan, insisting he is innocent and portraying himself as an honorable individual. ‎ ‎Speaking through an interpreter, Maduro told the court he bore no responsibility for the allegations against him. He declared that he is “a decent man,” maintained that he is not guilty of the charges, and asserted that he remains the president of Venezuela. ‎ Former Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro denies U.S. narco-terrorism charges in a Manhattan courtroom, as prosecutors outline allegations involving drug cartels and terrorist groups. ‎Getty Images ‎ ‎The hearing was overseen by United States District Judge Alvin Hellerstein. During the proceedings, Maduro’s wife, Cilia Flores, also formally denied the narco-terrorism charges brought against her. ‎ ‎According to U.S. authorities, Maduro, Flores, Maduro’s close military ally Diosdado Cabello, and...
Read more

Jeffrey Epstein: The Story She Was Too Afraid to Tell for Years

Image
‎The trafficking operation run by Jeffrey Epstein reportedly reached the southern edge of Africa, held together not just by money or power, but by psychological manipulation that survivors say kept them trapped for years. ‎ An emotional survivor account reveals how psychological control, international travel, and isolation shaped life inside Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking network stretching from South Africa to the Caribbean. Courtesy ‎ ‎For survivor Juliette Bryant, now 43, the experience is best described using one haunting phrase. ‎ ‎“Invisible chains is a good way to put it,” she said. “It was like I was handcuffed invisibly.” ‎ ‎For years, she carried the story in silence. ‎ ‎“I’d never even told my family. I never told anyone about what happened with him until he died.” ‎ ‎Her story began in 2002 in Cape Town, inside what she thought was the start of a dream. At the time, she was a first-year university student and an aspiring model. At just 20 years old, she believed ...
Read more

‎Dallas Cowboys Defensive End Marshawn Kneeland Dies at 24: Full Details of the Tragic Incident

Image
‎Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, 24, has died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to law enforcement authorities. The incident occurred early Thursday morning, prompting an outpouring of grief across the NFL community. ‎ ‎Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, 24, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. ‎Richard W. Rodriguez/AP ‎ ‎The Dallas Cowboys released a statement expressing heartbreak over the loss but did not mention a cause of death. The organization described Kneeland as a beloved teammate and extended condolences to his girlfriend, Catalina, and family. Counseling services have been made available to all players, coaches, and staff during the team’s bye week. ‎ ‎According to the Frisco Police Department, the events began Wednesday night around 10:39 p.m. CT when officers assisted the Texas Department of Public Safety in locating a vehicle that had evaded troopers. Kneeland’s vehicle was later found crashed along...
Read more

‎U.S. Trade Deficit Widens Despite Trump Tariffs, BEA Data Reveals December Reversal

Image
‎Efforts by Donald Trump to shrink the United States’ trade deficit through sweeping tariffs are facing renewed scrutiny after the latest government data showed a sharp monthly increase in the gap. ‎ ‎The president has consistently warned that large trade imbalances create both economic exposure and national security vulnerabilities. Acting on those concerns, his administration implemented a tariff system that intensified global geopolitical tensions. ‎ December trade figures show the U.S. deficit climbing above $70 billion, raising doubts about the effectiveness of President Donald Trump’s tariff-driven rebalancing strategy. ‎ Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images ‎However, the December trade report indicates that the strategy has yet to substantially rebalance America’s flow of goods and services. ‎ ‎Figures released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis show the U.S. goods and services deficit expanded to $70.3 billion in December, up from $53 billion in November—an in...
Read more

‎ICE Detains Father and 2-Year-Old Daughter in Minneapolis Grocery Store Incident

Image
‎A father and his 2-year-old daughter were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday, according to a Minneapolis City Council member, while the Department of Homeland Security confirmed the detention of the man who was traveling with a child at the time. ‎ ‎Elvis Joel Tipan-Echeverria and his young daughter, Chloe Renata Tipan Villacis, were stopped in south Minneapolis while returning from a grocery store trip, Council member Jason Chavez stated on Instagram. ‎ ‎A Minneapolis council member reports ICE detained a father and his 2-year-old daughter in south Minneapolis as DHS confirms custody amid growing immigration enforcement in Minnesota. ‎Jason Chavez-Cruz via GoFundMe ‎ ‎DHS confirmed that Tipan-Echeverria was detained during a traffic stop while a child was present in the vehicle, though officials did not release details about the child’s identity, age, or gender. ‎ ‎Chavez wrote that a suspicious vehicle followed the family, shattered a w...
Read more

‎'This Time It Will Not Miss the Target’: Iran Escalates Threats Toward Trump With Disturbing State TV Assassination Message

Image
‎Iran has broadcast a chilling assassination message aimed at President Donald Trump, displaying an image from the 2024 Butler campaign rally shooting accompanied by the warning, “This time it will not miss the target.” ‎ ‎The message was aired on Iranian state-run television, according to Agence France Presse, signaling a sharp escalation in Tehran’s stance toward the former US leader. ‎ ‎Iran has broadcast a menacing assassination threat against Donald Trump on state television, referencing the Butler rally shooting as tensions between Tehran and Washington sharply intensify. ‎Reuters ‎ ‎The broadcast represents the most explicit threat Iran has issued against Trump, coming after his repeated statements that the United States could take military action if Iran continues its violent response to anti-government protests. ‎ ‎The image of an injured Trump reportedly originated from a pro-regime rally in Iran and was shown despite widespread blackouts imposed as demonstrations...
Read more