A former US Marine Corps colonel and combat veteran has announced his resignation after 24 years of service, citing President Donald Trump's contempt for the constitution as the primary reason. Doug Krugman left his role on 30 September, the same day Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered controversial partisan addresses to military leaders at a special meeting in Virginia.
In an op-ed for the Washington Post, Krugman wrote: 'I gave up my career out of concern for our country's future.' He warned of a potential 'collapse' of the conventional US government system and urged other military personnel to reflect on their positions. 'They should be confident in questioning possibly immoral or illegal orders,' he said, adding that 'if they have doubts about their orders, they are not alone.'
Krugman noted that the 6 January 2021 riots, when Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, first made his position difficult. He cited Trump's subsequent pardoning of the insurrectionists in 2025 and the administration's refusal to grant refuge to many Afghans who had risked their lives for the US during the war as additional reasons for his doubts about Trump's morality.
He also highlighted concerns about the federalised deployment of the National Guard where not requested, calling it a breach of 'legal limits'. He criticised Trump's declaration of Portland, Oregon, as a war zone, saying the words had 'little connection to reality'.
'Instead of trying to work within the constitution, or to amend it, President Trump is testing how far he can ignore it,' Krugman wrote. He warned that without action from voters and legislators to clarify presidential power limits, 'the next president – of either party – may continue us down this path toward collapse.'
