Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, from left, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin watch during a Department of Defense Commander in Chief farewell ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
![Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, left, presents a plaque to President...]()
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, left, presents a plaque to President Joe Biden for the medal for Distinguished Public Service during a Department of Defense Commander in Chief farewell ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
![Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be Defense secretary,...]()
Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to be Defense secretary, appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
![Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown,...]()
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, from left, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stand during a Department of Defense Commander in Chief farewell ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, from left, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin watch during a Department of Defense Commander in Chief farewell ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
ExpandOfficials said the military chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force were getting ready to step in as acting service secretaries — a rare move.
