Why Brig. Gen. Eric Widmar's Departure is Stirring Pentagon Conversations

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.