Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, who led the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). The move came after the agency’s early assessment of U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites upset President Trump.

Two people familiar with the matter and a White House official confirmed the decision. They spoke anonymously since they were not allowed to discuss it publicly.

Along with Kruse, Hegseth also removed Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore, head of the Navy Reserve, and Rear Adm. Milton Sands, a Navy SEAL officer overseeing Naval Special Warfare Command.

The Pentagon did not give reasons for these firings. However, they add to a pattern of Trump removing military and intelligence officials who are seen as disloyal or critical. This week, the administration also stripped security clearances from several current and former national security officials.

Analysts say the latest decisions may discourage dissent and pressure officials not to contradict Trump’s positions.

Intelligence Findings Disputed By Trump

Kruse’s firing followed a leaked preliminary report on U.S. airstrikes in Iran two months ago. The report concluded that Iran’s nuclear program was delayed by only a few months. This went against Trump’s claim — backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — that the program was “completely and fully obliterated.”

Trump rejected the DIA’s findings and criticized the agency repeatedly. His mistrust of intelligence reports is long-standing, dating back to the 2017 assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help him.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has been releasing old documents aimed at casting doubt on such earlier intelligence findings.

At the time of the June strikes on Iranian facilities, Hegseth defended the mission strongly. “You want to call it destroyed, you want to call it defeated, you want to call it obliterated — choose your word. This was a historically successful attack,” he said during a press conference.

Democrats Raise Concerns Over Political Pressure

Members of Congress have voiced concern over Kruse’s dismissal.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said: “The firing of yet another senior national security official underscores the Trump administration’s dangerous habit of treating intelligence as a loyalty test rather than a safeguard for our country.”

Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, demanded an explanation from the administration. He warned, “Otherwise, we can only assume that this is another politically motivated decision intended to create an atmosphere of fear” within the intelligence community.

Trump’s Pattern of Firing Officials

Trump has often removed officials who release data or reports that challenge his positions. Earlier this month, he fired the official in charge of employment data after a weak jobs report. His administration has also blocked reports on climate change, ended studies on vaccine access, and removed gender identity data from government websites.

Broader Shake-Up in Military and Intelligence Leadership

The firings of Kruse, Lacore, and Sands come at the end of a week of sweeping changes in both military and intelligence leadership.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence announced staff and budget cuts, while also revoking more security clearances. The Pentagon confirmed that Gen. David Allvin, the Air Force’s top uniformed officer, plans to retire two years early.

Hegseth and Trump have aggressively removed top officers without formal reasons. In recent months, they dismissed Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr., who served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with the Navy’s top officer, the Air Force’s second highest-ranking officer, and senior lawyers in three service branches.

Back in April, Hegseth ousted Gen. Tim Haugh, then head of the National Security Agency, and Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, a senior NATO official.

Although the Pentagon has not given public reasons for these dismissals, reports suggest that some of the officers supported diversity, equity, and inclusion programs — policies that Trump has ordered government agencies to eliminate.