Now that Trump occupies the White House, those efforts have expanded. He started by firing Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan. By all accounts an effective and seasoned leader, Trump viewed her as insufficiently loyal — so, she’s out the door. To be clear, Trump has ultimate authority over these senior leadership positions. He has the power to dismiss officers. But he is not immune to the consequences. These purges will have direct impacts on morale, on recruitment, and on the retention of qualified and experienced leadership.