US Department of Defense Removes Senior Advisory Panel Members This Time

Successive Personnel Storm Following High-Level Changes Including Ministers
Security Concerns Stirred in Late Trump Administration

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] The U.S. Department of Defense has dismissed a large number of members of the Defense Policy Board, a diplomatic and security advisory group to the top leadership. Following the Secretary of Defense, the senior advisory group was not spared from the reshuffle.

U.S. President Donald Trump is playing golf on Thanksgiving Day, the 26th, and returning to the White House.
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to CNN on the 26th (local time), the U.S. Department of Defense recently dismissed some members of the Defense Policy Board.

The dismissed members are known to include former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and former House Republican Whip Eric Cantor.

Also included were Gary Roughhead, who served as Chief of Naval Operations under the Barack Obama administration, and Jack Crouch, former Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Council (NSC) under the George W. Bush administration.

Christopher Miller, Acting Secretary of Defense who replaced former Secretary Mark Esper, said in a statement on the day, "We thank the retired members who have served for decades," and added, "We look forward to nominating new members in the near future."

CNN pointed out that this is an example showing that purges of foreign policy experts and national security officials have continued toward the end of President Donald Trump's term.

The Defense Policy Board is an external advisory group composed of former senior national security officials who provide independent and professional advice to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense.

CNN reported, "The successive announcements of replacements are fueling anxiety among military and civilian officials."