Trump fired the US military’s top woman officer. His attack on equality won’t endure | Opinion

From Fort Leavenworth to Whiteman Air Force Base and the countless Reserve and National Guard units throughout the region, this is a city deeply connected to military service. The men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting our country are our neighbors, friends, and family members.

To all those serving in and around Kansas City, and across the nation: You are seen. You are appreciated. Your service, your sacrifices and your leadership matter.

But in these times of uncertainty and political discourse amid sweeping policy changes, sudden firings and the silencing of voices that have long struggled to be heard, some may not feel as seen or appreciated as they should.

Optics matter. And the optics of this are appalling.

On Inauguration Day, as Donald Trump celebrated his return to power at the Commander in Chief Ball, Adm. Linda L. Fagan, the highest-ranking woman in U.S. military history, was fired. She learned of her termination while waiting to take a photo with the president. The official reasoning? According to the Department of Homeland Security, she placed an “excessive focus” on diversity, equity and inclusion, and failed to fully address recruitment issues and border security threats.

But make no mistake, this was not just about policy. This was about power. Some may even say this is an attempt to erase the progress women have made in the military.

Adm. Fagan’s career was nothing short of extraordinary. She graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1985, part of just the sixth class to include women. She spent nearly four decades in service, paving the way for future generations of women in uniform. In 2022, when she became commandant of the Coast Guard, she shattered barriers as the first woman in history to lead a branch of the U.S. military. Under her leadership, the Coast Guard expanded opportunities for women, prioritized modernization efforts and strengthened national security.

Fagan’s firing sends a clear and dangerous message: No matter how hard you work, no matter how high you rise, you are still expendable.

For decades, young women have looked up to leaders like Fagan as proof that they, too, could serve at the highest levels. Now, what are they supposed to believe?

This is not just about one woman losing her job. This is about rolling back decades of progress.

Our new Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has publicly stated that women should not serve in combat roles. On Day 1, Trump signed an executive order dismantling DEI programs across the federal government. The firing of Adm. Fagan is not an isolated decision — it is part of a larger strategy to push women and marginalized groups out of positions of power. Indeed, on Friday night, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the Black chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations and the first woman to become a member of the Joint Chiefs, were both abruptly fired.

Air Force leader’s inspiration

A few months ago, I attended a higher education conference where I had the opportunity to hear Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass speak. She was engaging, informative and inspiring — the kind of leader whose presence alone commands respect. After hearing her speak, I was eager to connect with her, and I walked away from our conversation feeling as though we had crossed paths for a reason.

For years, my 16-year-old daughter has talked about joining the Air Force, but I struggled to picture what her future in the military might look like. That changed the moment I met Chief Bass. Seeing her and hearing her story made it possible for me to finally envision my daughter thriving in the Air Force. It reinforced just how much representation matters.

Young women (and those who love them) need to see people who look like them in leadership roles to know that their aspirations are possible.

But now, I can’t help but wonder: What would Bass say about this moment? Would she still encourage young women to serve? Would she, too, be dismissed simply for advocating for inclusion in a military that has long struggled to integrate women into its highest ranks?

Bass, after all, was the first woman to serve as chief master sergeant of the Air Force, the highest enlisted leadership position. She was the personal adviser to the chief of staff and the secretary of the Air Force, responsible for ensuring the welfare, readiness and progress of more than 600,000 Airmen. Like Adm. Fagan, she made history. And like Adm. Fagan, the new administration could attempt to erase her, her service and her legacy.

Yet despite efforts to erase Fagan’s contributions, and others like hers, their legacy will endure. They proved that women belong in military leadership. They inspired thousands of service members who saw them as proof that they, too, could rise through the ranks. They led with integrity and strength, regardless of the administration they served under. And no matter how hard some may try, they can never erase what these women accomplished.

But we must not let this moment pass without recognizing what it truly is: a deliberate attempt to undo progress and send women back to the sidelines.

The young women considering military careers today, including my own daughter, deserve to know that they will not just be accepted but valued. That their service matters. That they belong.

Because if we do not push back now, we may not recognize the military our daughters inherit.

And that is a future we simply cannot afford to accept.

This story was originally published February 23, 2025 at 5:01 AM.