WASHINGTON — On Thursday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin instructed the military to ensure a seamless transition for President-elect Donald Trump, while reminding troops of their duty to follow the lawful directives of their impending commander in chief.
Although such communications are not commonplace, this is not the first occasion in which the military’s leading civilian official has emphasized the force’s responsibility to the Constitution during a transition of power involving Trump.
With the incoming president indicating that he might deploy federal forces along the border and the Project 2025 initiative aiming to replace career civil servants with those who are loyal to Trump, the Biden administration has adopted extraordinary measures to protect these civil workers while reiterating the military’s commitment to its oaths.
“In alignment with tradition, the U.S. military stands prepared to execute the policy decisions of its next Commander in Chief and to heed all lawful orders originating from the civilian chain of command,” Austin conveyed in his correspondence to Defense Department members.
“The military will maintain its distance from political matters; it will safeguard our republic with dedication and professionalism, and collaborate with our esteemed allies and partners to enhance our national security.”
Austin further emphasized that members of the armed forces swear an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” and assured them that this commitment will remain steadfast.
In 2016, Ash Carter, the outgoing defense secretary during the Obama administration, also called for an orderly transfer of power following Trump’s election, expressing confidence that the military would uphold its high standards consistent with public expectations.
Furthermore, when Trump’s Defense Secretary Jim Mattis resigned in 2018, he urged the military to keep its focus “undistracted from our sworn mission to support and defend the Constitution.”
“Our Department excels in challenging times,” Mattis stated in his resignation letter, which was prompted by differences with Trump regarding troop withdrawals in Syria.
After the Biden administration, through the Office of Personnel Management, implemented new regulations in April designed to protect career civil servants from being removed by political appointees, Austin reaffirmed the Pentagon’s dedication to similar measures. In a letter dated July 10, he committed to shielding these civil servants “from unlawful or other inappropriate political intrusions.”
These regulations were a direct reaction to an executive order signed by Trump in 2020, which aimed at reclassifying thousands of the 2.2 million federal workers, thus diminishing their job security protections—concerns that may resurface if Trump secures a second term. The future of protections for these employees under a new administration remains uncertain, especially if Trump opts to issue an executive order revoking the safeguards implemented by President Joe Biden.