Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, abruptly fired the navy chief of staff on Friday, removing an aide who had been key to the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the Pentagon. Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementRelated: Veterans react to Hegseth’s ‘insulting’ address to generals and admirals“He will no longer serve as Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Navy,” it said. In February, Hegseth also fired air force general CQ Brown Jr, the chair of the joint chiefs of staff and the second Black man to serve in that role. Many veterans reacted furiously to the address by Hegseth, who before being appointed as defense secretary was a host on Fox News. Secure Messaging in the Guardian appThe Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories.