5 Reasons Lt. Gen. Braga Has No Business Leading JSOC

Our most elite warfighters deserve a leader grounded in mission-first excellence, not ideological experiments. Lt. General Braga, who was nominated to lead the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), is unfortunately one of those leaders who puts ideology over excellence. His record reveals a troubling pattern of prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives over combat effectiveness, morale, and unity.

Here are five reasons why Braga is the wrong choice to lead JSOC:

1. He Championed Radical DEI Initiatives

Braga wasn’t simply following Pentagon marching orders - he actively advanced them. During his tenure as U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), USASOC shifted away from merit-based standards toward a system influenced by quotas and identity politics. By signing DEI memos that made diversity metrics a performance requirement, Braga institutionalized ideology over warfighting.

2. He Undermined His Own Operators

In his 2023 Women in ARSOF report, Braga asked special operators to provide candid feedback on integration challenges, only to dismiss their real-world, experience-based concerns. He publicly labeled many of their views as sexist, undercutting the trust and respect that effective leadership requires. Instead of defending his troops, Braga sided with political narratives.

3. He Elevated Symbolism Over Substance

Braga repeatedly showcased a preference for demographic symbolism over battlefield competence. His has demonstrated that he installs leadership based on identity politics rather than proven operational excellence, signaling to the force that box-checking and optics mattered more than cohesion and effectiveness. In elite warfighting units, this undermines credibility and readiness.

4. He Promoted LGBTQ+ Activism Within the Ranks

In 2023, USASOC under Braga’s leadership used official channels to celebrate Pride Month with the intersex-inclusive Progress Pride flag. This wasn’t a neutral acknowledgment, it was a political act signaling to the force that activism and identity politics were being elevated above combat readiness. For America’s elite units, this is a dangerous distraction from the mission.

5. He’s a Driving Force Behind the “Woke” Agenda

Braga’s defenders may argue he was simply complying with Pentagon directives. But the truth is clear: he was an enthusiastic driver of these policies, not a reluctant participant. He championed “social experiments” inside one of the most critical arms of our military, showing allegiance to ideology over operational excellence. JSOC cannot afford a commander who treats warfighting as secondary to political fashion.

The Bottom Line...

JSOC is America’s premier warfighting unit, tasked with missions that demand the highest levels of trust, cohesion, and combat focus. Lt. Gen. Braga’s record shows he has repeatedly undermined these qualities in pursuit of ideological goals. President Trump should withdraw this nomination and select a leader who puts mission above messaging, merit above quotas, and strength above sensitivity.

JSOC deserves a warrior, not a woke activist.