Marine Colonel Paul Krugman recently announced that he would leave the military service effective September 30. His decision followed a successful 24-year military career and during a time of great awareness about the direction of our country under President Donald Trump’s administration. Krugman departed shortly before Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s apocalyptic oratory to the nation’s military brass. In doing so, their rhetoric ignited widespread fears of the present administration’s governing tone and values, especially in their military operations abroad.
In his resignation, Krugman expressed his deep dismay over the federalized deployment of the National Guard. He was especially upset by this move in places where it hadn’t been asked for. He condemned this gambit as exceeding “legal boundaries” and posing an attack on the rule of law. Krugman was particularly incensed by Trump’s labeling Portland, Oregon, as a “war zone.” He maintained that flawed rhetoric like this has a profound effect on thinking and action on the part of the service members as well as civilians.
It was only after seeing the destruction resulting from the January 6, 2021 coup attempt that Krugman made the decision to depart. Those riots he called pivotal because they made his military position increasingly untenable. Against that backdrop, Scaramucci aired his doubts about Trump’s moral compass in a widely circulated op-ed published in the Washington Post. On that issue he raised the question of legality of orders being issued.
“Ignoring reality to take advantage of vague laws to assume [emergency powers] is also immoral,” – Krugman
Further, Krugman lamented that Trump would be able to pardon insurrectionists if he regains the White House in 2025. He lamented the administration’s refusal to grant refuge to many Afghans who had risked their lives for U.S. interests during the prolonged conflict in Afghanistan.
Deep down, though, Krugman’s fear is one all prophets of prescient doom fear—that we become complacent and stop fighting against the bad tide. He called on voters and legislators to help define the legal limits to presidential power. If they fail to act, we risk future administrations driving us to a point of governmental collapse.
“If voters and legislators cannot close the gaps in our laws to clarify the limits of presidential power, those who serve our government will continue to struggle,” – Krugman
Trump addressed military leaders with a confrontational remark:
“If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can leave the room. Of course, there goes your rank, there goes your future,” – Trump
Krugman’s hindsight exposes a growing chasm between our military values and political gamesmanship at the top tiers of government. He has provided important reassurance to fellow service members that they are not alone in questioning potentially immoral or illegal orders.
“They should be confident in questioning possibly immoral or illegal orders,” – Krugman
In his final statements as a Marine officer, Krugman affirmed his commitment to ethical service, declaring:
“These are not the kinds of actions that I’m willing to risk my life to defend.” – Krugman