Admiral Alvin Holsey’s abrupt resignation from U.S. Southern Command amid Trump’s unauthorized Caribbean strikes has fueled speculation of internal dissent, legal concerns, and growing unrest within the military.
The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has plunged into crisis following the sudden early retirement of Admiral Alvin Holsey, the four-star Navy officer overseeing operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, where President Donald Trump is waging an undeclared war on alleged drug traffickers.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Holsey’s retirement two years ahead of schedule, sparking unrest within the command. “People are angry,” one government official told The Intercept, while another described key officers as “disillusioned.”
Holsey’s silence on his decision has fueled speculation that his exit stemmed from disputes over the legality or ethics of Trump’s unapproved strikes, or from tensions with Hegseth’s controversial anti-diversity campaign. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell dismissed such claims as “Fake News.”
Since September, the U.S. has carried out at least seven deadly maritime strikes in the Caribbean, killing 32 people. Lawmakers, including Senators Rand Paul and Tim Kaine, have condemned the attacks as unconstitutional and demanded congressional hearings.
Sen. Jack Reed warned that Holsey’s resignation “sends an alarming signal of instability within the chain of command.” Holsey, the first Black commander in SOUTHCOM’s history, praised his team’s “lasting contributions” in a farewell statement but offered no explanation for his departure.