One of the country’s top military commanders is out of work after details of a politically charged email directed at Vice President JD Vance surfaced.
The Space Force announced late yesterday that it removed Col. Susannah Meyers as leader of Pituffik Space Base “for loss of confidence in her ability to lead.”
According to reports, Meyers, the officer in charge of a US Space Force base in Greenland was stripped of her command after she sent out a mass email that distanced herself from statements by Vance and the Trump administration days after his visit last month.
“Commanders are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct, especially as it relates to remaining nonpartisan in the performance of their duties,” the Space Operations Command’s statement read.
Meyers, who assumed control of the 821st Space Base Group in July 2024, sent the message to the troops in her command stating that the views discussed by Vance during his visit on March 28 “are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base.”
“[I] spent the weekend thinking about Friday’s visit — the actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you,” she wrote to her subordinates in the email obtained by Military.com and verified by the Space Force.
“I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the US administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base.”
“I commit that, for as long as I am lucky enough to lead this base, all of our flags will fly proudly — together,” Meyers added.
Meyers sent out the email on March 31, presumably upset over comments made by Vance about potentially annexing Greenland.
The base-wide message was a highly unusual move, as publicly speaking out again the executive branch is viewed as not falling in line with the commander-in-chief, and signals to the world that the US military is a disjointed force, according to comments from military officials.
Meyers — who spent nearly 20 years as an Air Force officer before jumping branches to the Space Force in May 2021 — oversaw roughly 200 airmen and guardians while in command of the US’s northernmost military installation.
Durning Vance’s visit, media outlets witnessed Meyers speaking about her plans to retire in the next few months.
Cameras also saw Vance and Meyers having a pleasant conversation about polar plunges before the briefing, with Meyers smiling and laughing as Vance read out a certificate he saw in her office about the plunge, including a line about “lusty seals.”
In total, 650 men and women, including civilian contractors from Greenland, Denmark and Canada, live and work at Pituffik Space Base.
Space Operations Command announced that Col. Shawn Lee replaced Meyers as Pituffik’s commanding officer.
“Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense,” the assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, Sean Parnell, wrote on X, along with the Space Force’s announcement.
Vance press secretary Taylor Van Kirk said in a statement: “Vice President Vance is grateful for his visit to Pituffik Space Base and for the opportunity to meet with our brave servicemen and women stationed there.”
“President Trump has made his vision for an enhanced security footprint in the arctic abundantly clear, and the Vice President is committed to implementing the President’s agenda. This includes strengthening the partnership and cooperation between the United States and Greenland, which is critical for both American national security and the safety of our partners worldwide.”
Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee celebrated Meyers’ removal in a series of X statements, with Sens. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) all praising the quickness of the DOD in getting her out.