Trump Admin Fires Female NATO Official Criticized For ‘Wokeness’

The Trump administration has dismissed a high-ranking NATO official, Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield, following recommendations from a conservative think tank targeting what they describe as "wokeness" within the Pentagon.

Vice Admiral Chatfield, who was the only woman serving on NATO’s military committee, was relieved of her duties over the weekend without any official reason provided. As one of the few female three-star admirals in the Navy and the first woman to lead the Naval War College—a position she held until 2023—her removal has raised eyebrows within military and political circles.

According to the Associated Press, Adm. Christopher Grady, the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, informed Chatfield by phone that the administration intended to take “a different approach” to the role. While sources believe the decision was made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, it remains unclear whether it was under direct orders from President Donald Trump. Reuters initially broke the story, which was later picked up by Fox News.

There has been no confirmation that her termination was directly tied to any specific changes in U.S. policy toward the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Both Trump and Hegseth have vocally opposed what they term “woke policies,” aiming to roll back initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This effort has included removing DEI-related materials and leaders seen as supporting such initiatives. For instance, the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis is currently in the process of eliminating over 400 books that feature DEI themes from its library.

Back in December, the American Accountability Foundation (AAF)—a right-leaning watchdog group—sent a letter to Hegseth listing 20 senior officers and admirals they accused of pushing “left-wing” ideals, including DEI. They argued such priorities were harmful to national security. Vice Admiral Chatfield was among eight women on that list.

The AAF criticized Chatfield for remarks she made in a 2015 speech in which she lamented that the House of Representatives was 80% male, stating that “our diversity is our strength.” They also cited her use of a slide from the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute that emphasized how “investing in gender equality and women’s empowerment can unlock human potential on a transformational scale.”

Chatfield, a Navy helicopter pilot and former commander of a joint reconstruction team in Afghanistan, was one of 32 national representatives on NATO’s military committee. The committee advises the North Atlantic Council and the Nuclear Planning Group, serving as a crucial link between NATO’s political leadership and military operations.

The move drew sharp criticism from lawmakers. Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed his alarm on social media, stating he was “deeply disturbed” by the dismissal. He added, “Trump’s relentless attacks on our alliances and his careless dismissal of decorated military officials make us less safe and weaken our position across the world.”

Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, also condemned the firing, calling it “disgraceful.” Reed praised Chatfield as “one of the best military officers our country has to offer,” highlighting her 38-year Navy career, her leadership of the Naval War College, and her stature as a military strategist and educator. “Admiral Chatfield’s record of selfless service is unaffected by President Trump’s actions,” he stated.

Reed also criticized the Republican Party’s silence on the matter, pointing out that Trump has now dismissed ten generals and admirals since returning to office. The most recent, prior to Chatfield, was General Timothy Haugh, who headed the National Security Agency and the U.S. Cyber Command, and was removed just days earlier.

This follows the controversial ouster of Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s top officer and the first woman appointed as Chief of Naval Operations.