Top Air Force official who slammed Trump's 'space force' suddenly quits

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson is resigning her position for a job in academia, leaving yet another major military position open under Trump.

Wilson is reportedly leaving to become the president of the University of Texas at El Paso.

Trump has had an extremely high turnover rate at top government positions as his haphazard and inept style has proven to be difficult to work with. Positions that were highly coveted in other administrations cannot be filled under Trump.

The U.S. hasn’t even had a secretary of Defense since Jim Mattis quit at the beginning of the year, slamming Trump’s reckless foreign policy and approach to military affairs on the way out.

There were reports of friction between Trump and Wilson because she was opposed to “Space Force,” Trump’s much-derided plan to create a sixth branch of the military to handle space operations.

“The Pentagon is complicated enough,” Wilson said in June 2017. “This will make it more complex, add more boxes to the organization chart, and cost more money. And if I had more money, I would put it into lethality, not bureaucracy — I don’t need another chief of staff and another six deputy chiefs of staff.”

Last year Trump was reportedly “angered” by Wilson’s stance and saw it as a campaign to undermine his precious space force idea. He considered firing her over it.

Trump recently pushed the Pentagon to request $2 billion in taxpayer funds to waste on the “space force,” which he has used as an applause line at rallies and to sell campaign merchandise.

Trump also declined to nominated Wilson for the still-vacant position of secretary of Defense.

Trump has been negligent on military matters during his presidency, and has been derisive and abusive towards soldiers and veterans.

Wilson’s departure further highlights the ever-increasing dysfunction that surrounds Trump, especially on vital topics like national defense.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.