WASHINGTON DC – U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) joined fellow members of the Senate Armed Services Committee in a letter demanding answers from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth regarding the recent abrupt dismissals of several Judge Advocate Generals (JAG). In addition to demanding legal justification for these dismissals, the lawmakers requested documentation of the decision-making process, and a response to several oversight questions. The letter also expressed serious concerns about statements made by Secretary Hegseth regarding these actions.
JAG officers provide guidance on military justice, international law, operational law, administrative compliance, and ethics, helping to ensure that the U.S. military operates within the bounds of national and international legal frameworks.
“By arbitrarily and baselessly removing duly selected and highly qualified JAG officers, the Administration undermines the military justice system and has interfered with the independent legal counsel that uniformed attorneys provide to commanders and the Department itself,” the Senators wrote. “Such removals create an unmistakable chilling effect, signaling to all judge advocates that their positions are contingent not upon their legal expertise and adherence to the law, but rather upon political or personal loyalty. Further, this move undermines the rigorous selection and confirmation process established by Congress.”
“The independence of military legal professionals must be preserved, and any actions that erode this independence must be rectified without delay,” they continued. “Failing to integrate JAGs into military planning who are free to give independent legal advice to the commander threatens not only compliance with the law but also the safety and effectiveness of U.S. forces.”
The full letter can be found HERE.
Senator Rosen has been a champion for Nevada’s servicemembers and their families. Earlier this month, she joined a letter calling on President Donald Trump to immediately reinstate all veterans who have been illegally fired in his Administration’s mass terminations of federal employees. In a previous letter, she demanded the VA provide answers regarding mass employee terminations. Senator Rosen also urged the VA to take immediate action to secure veterans’ personal information provided by VA or other agencies to Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
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