Joint Chiefs’ Top Lawyer Leaving Trump Admin Early
The senior legal adviser to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine is stepping down nearly a year before his expected retirement, becoming the latest senior Pentagon official to depart since the start of President Donald Trump’s second administration.
Brig. Gen. Eric Widmar told ProPublica that he was leaving the position for “personal reasons” after serving as the chairman’s senior legal counsel since 2024.
“Earlier this year, my wife and I reflected on the demands of this role, which have required me to live apart from my wife for the past two years and created additional challenges for me and my family,” he said in a statement to the outlet.
“After careful consideration, I decided it was time to place my family at the center of my life and focus on our next chapter together,” he added, per the left-wing outlet.
Widmar’s departure follows a series of high-profile leadership changes at the Pentagon over the past 18 months.
Among them was Gen. Christopher Donahue, the former commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, who reportedly left his post last week after being removed before completing his expected term by War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Earlier this year, Hegseth also replaced Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, ending his tenure roughly halfway through what is typically a four-year assignment.
The leadership changes continued late last year when Hegseth removed Adm. Alvin Holsey as commander of U.S. Southern Command, despite roughly two years remaining in his expected term.
Holsey had been overseeing operations that included drone strikes targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels in waters near South America.
Shortly after taking office in February 2025, Hegseth also dismissed the top uniformed legal advisers for the Army, Air Force and Navy.
At the time, he said he did not believe they were “well-suited” to provide legal guidance on military orders.
The dismissals drew concern from some legal scholars and former military officials, who argued the changes could weaken the military’s traditional system of legal oversight and adherence to the laws of armed conflict as the Pentagon emphasized a more combat-focused “warrior ethos,” The Hill reported.
All said, however, Trump, as commander-in-chief, and Hegseth, as head of the War Dept., are entitled to service commanders who share their vision for the military. If those officers do not share a similar vision or have their own ideas about how things should be run, they shouldn’t remain in their positions, experts have noted.
But there is no indication that Widmar held a different vision for the military or that he was in disagreement with any of Trump’s policies and vision.
Caine, the principal military adviser to Trump and Hegseth, said in a statement to The Hill that Widmar “is a fantastic Officer and Lawyer” who served the entire U.S. and thanked him for his “remarkable” service.
“I’m personally deeply grateful for Eric and his Family’s service and deeply respect his decision to prioritize his family as he moves on to the next chapter,” Caine said.
“He is deeply respected and admired by all. … We will miss his legal counsel, incredible expertise and experience, and his understanding of our responsibility to always speak truth to power,” Caine added.
A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Widmar has served in the Army for more than 28 years.
Before becoming senior legal counsel to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he served as staff judge advocate for U.S. Central Command, where he oversaw a team of more than 150 legal professionals representing all five branches of the U.S. military, said The Hill.
According to a December CNN report, Widmar advised Caine in November that military commanders who believe they have received an unlawful order should request retirement rather than resign in protest or openly challenge the directive.
The reported guidance came amid ongoing debate among lawmakers and legal experts over the legality of U.S. military operations targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
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BREAKING:💔Trump Issues Statement Regarding Health of Mitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell Health Update: Speculation Continues Amid Limited Public Information
Weeks after former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was hospitalized following a medical emergency at his Washington, D.C. home, questions persist about the 84-year-old Kentucky Republican’s condition and his ability to complete his Senate term, which ends in January 2027.
McConnell was reportedly found unconscious on or around June 14, with initial accounts indicating CPR was administered. His office has released few details since then, describing him as receiving “excellent care,” continuing to improve, and working with staff on Kentucky and Senate matters remotely while in recovery.
Later updates from McConnell’s team clarified that the senator suffered a fall, was briefly unconscious, and was treated for a mild case of pneumonia. He has since moved to a rehabilitation facility to regain strength and stated he does not plan an immediate return to the Senate floor.
Political Reactions and Calls for Transparency
White House: President Trump recently said he had “no idea” about McConnell’s current status and had not spoken with him since the hospitalization.
Kentucky Governor: Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear sent a letter to McConnell requesting a full public update on his health, citing transparency obligations to constituents.
Senate Colleagues: Responses from fellow Republicans have been mixed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said early on that McConnell “sounded good” in a conversation. However, Sen. Mike Lee noted that many members remain uninformed about details.
The limited information has sparked online speculation and criticism, including unverified claims about his condition. McConnell’s office has pushed back against rumors, noting ongoing improvement.
Broader Context
This situation has renewed debate over health transparency for aging lawmakers. McConnell has a history of health challenges, including previous incidents like a concussion in 2023. As of mid-July 2026, he remains absent from the Senate as it resumes work, narrowing the Republican majority’s margin on key committees.
No official timeline for his return has been confirmed, and public frustration continues over the lack of recent visual updates or more detailed medical disclosures.
This remains a developing story. For the most current details, check official statements from Sen. McConnell’s office or major news outlets.
'NATIONAL EMERGENCY' DECLARED, TRUMP SURGES US TROOPS AFTER 'MASS CASUALTIES’
Over 500 Dead In Venezuela As Rescuers Race To Find Quake Victims
Rescuers scramble to reach survivors before the “golden window” to save people closes, as at least 589 people have died in Venezuela’s twin quakes.
The country is mired in a political and financial crisis. The second quake was the strongest in the country in more than a century.
Close to 3,000 people have been wounded, many more are missing, and others remain trapped under tons of rubble.
President Donald Trump has vowed to ramp up help to Venezuela following Thursday’s quake.
“We took over Venezuela in less than one day, and the oil is flowing, and we’re getting along with them great,” Trump said in remarks from the Rose Garden Thursday evening.
“We’re going to, by the way, help them with their big – they had a tremendous earthquake last night. Did you read about massive, massive in Caracas? But we’re going to help them out,” Trump added.
A Marine Corps general flew into Caracas on Thursday to help lead the US military’s earthquake relief effort in Venezuela, where, just six months ago, US special forces launched a deadly raid to capture President Nicolás Maduro.
Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Jarrard is the senior Southern Command official on the ground.
The military said he is to “plan, coordinate, and direct the flow of rescue teams, equipment, and aid into the hardest-hit areas.”
US aircraft are flying search crews and supplies in, while State Department personnel are coordinating the broader response.
Southern Command, which directs US military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, said it was “surging” forces to the region at the request of the interim government.
Relief teams from around the world are also mobilizing aid, and foreign aid pledges are pouring in.
“We haven’t slept a wink in our efforts to save lives,” acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on Friday.
Rodríguez also praised the arrival of international assistance and emergency crews, saying, “We have saved dozens of lives.”
More than 100 buildings collapsed in the La Guaira state, the area hardest hit by the double quake that struck Venezuela on Wednesday, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said.
During a broadcast on state-run Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), Cabello said Caraballeda and Catia La Mar were the hardest-hit areas in the state and said 11,500 security personnel would be deployed to La Guaira on Friday to “guarantee peace.”
Venezuelan forces deployed to the area hit by Wednesday’s double earthquake are still searching for people who may be trapped under the rubble.
In an interview granted to Venezuelan public television (VTV), the Sectoral Vice President of Public Works and Services, Juan José Ramírez, stated that operations are being carried out with different machinery, such as percussion equipment that allows for the controlled breaking of concrete, with the hope of finding and rescuing more people alive.
Ramírez appealed to the public to let specialized civil protection teams do their job.
“Many times, volunteers trying to help can actually make things worse,” the official said.
Ramírez emphasized that the priority is “to save lives,” while efforts are also underway to restore basic services such as water and communications.
The US Treasury Department said Thursday it will permit “all transactions” with Venezuela “related to earthquake relief efforts.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) authorizes only partial and temporary relief from restrictions from June 26 through October 23.
The general license allows the processing and transfer of funds on behalf of third-country individuals “to or from” Venezuela, as long as they support operations covered by the specific authorization.
Venezuelans are frustrated by the slow pace of the government’s rescue response in the immediate aftermath of the twin quakes that struck on Wednesday.
“People are really frustrated. They are scared because they know that they don’t have a state that will fulfill its role. So they know that nobody is going to go there and help them,” said Venezuelan economist Jorge Jraissati.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
