Pentagon officials are reportedly discussing how to respond to potential directives from President-elect Donald Trump, according to a report by CNN citing defense sources.
The conversations include planning for various possible actions by the incoming administration, such as deploying military forces to assist with mass deportations or reinstating Schedule F, an executive order from Trump’s previous term that would reclassify certain federal employees, making them easier to dismiss.
The reported discussions include “gaming out” scenarios in which Trump could use the military to support federal and local law enforcement in deportation operations.
According to CNN, some officials are preparing for “the worst-case scenario,” though a defense official acknowledged that the actual course of action remains uncertain.
One of the primary concerns among Pentagon officials, CNN reported, is the possibility that Trump could reintroduce Schedule F, a measure he first implemented via executive order in 2020.
Schedule F reclassified certain civil servants as “at-will” employees, allowing for their dismissal based on performance.
Joe Biden rescinded the order shortly after taking office in 2021, but Trump has publicly indicated his intention to bring it back, stating in a 2023 video that he would “wield that power very aggressively.”
The prospect of Schedule F’s return has reportedly generated significant concern within defense circles, with one official telling CNN that they have received a high volume of communications on the topic.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has previously warned against “inappropriate political encroachments” on career civil servants, while Trump has criticized some in the Pentagon as “rogue bureaucrats.”
Concerns over potential conflicts between Trump and the Department of Defense have also been amplified by Trump’s past statements, including his October comments to Fox News’s Maria Bartiromo about addressing “radical left lunatics” within government ranks.
Trump referenced the possible need for the National Guard or the military to deal with “the enemy within,” a term he used to describe political opponents, including Democratic Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff from California.
The possibility of a strained relationship between Trump’s administration and the Pentagon has reportedly led officials to prepare for a different dynamic in his second term.
CNN reported that the connection between the Trump White House and the Department of Defense (DoD) was notably tense during his first term, prompting a heightened focus on personnel choices for key DoD roles this time around.
Republican CNN contributor Scott Jennings addressed these reported discussions on Anderson Cooper 360⁰, suggesting that if officials are worried about upcoming changes, they should raise their concerns directly with Trump. “What’s Donald Trump supposed to think?” Jennings asked.
“He’s gotta read in the newspaper tonight that the unelected bureaucracy of the federal government is having meetings, at some level, about how to thwart or countermand the Commander in Chief.”
The report comes amid heightened interest in how Trump’s approach to the Pentagon may differ from his previous term.
Many of Trump’s most vocal critics from his first term came from within his own administration, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and former Chief of Staff John Kelly.
Both Milley and Kelly were prominent in their critiques, with Kelly comparing Trump to a fascist and alleging that Trump praised Adolf Hitler, a claim Trump has denied.
As Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, the focus on his potential actions and changes within the Pentagon reflects broader questions about how his administration will interact with the military and defense establishment.
The discussions reported by CNN indicate that defense officials are actively considering the challenges and adjustments they might face under the incoming administration, with scenarios being evaluated to anticipate potential policy shifts under Trump’s leadership.
