Former Defense Chiefs Call For Congressional Hearings On Trump's Firing Of Senior Military Leaders

Five former secretaries of defense are calling on Congress to hold immediate hearings on President Donald Trump's recent firings of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and several other senior military leaders, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press .

The five men - who represented Republican and Democratic administrations over the past three decades - said the dismissals were alarming, raised "troubling questions about the administration's desire to politicize the military" and removed legal constraints on the president's power.

Late last week, Trump fired Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth followed that by firing Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations Gen. Jim Slife, vice chief of the Air Force and the judge advocates general for the military services .

Hegseth has defended the firing of Brown, saying that other presidents made changes in military personnel and that Trump deserves to pick his own team. Hegseth said he fired the JAGs because he didn't think they were "well-suited" to provide recommendations when lawful orders are given.

The letter - signed by William Perry, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel , Jim Mattis and Lloyd Austin - said there were no real justifications for the firings because several of the officers had been nominated by Trump for previous positions. And it said they had exemplary careers, including operational and combat experience.