The commander of the U.S. Space Force’s northernmost base has been relieved of duty after she sent a message distancing her installation from Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent comments criticizing Denmark’s treatment of Greenland.
Col. Susannah Meyers, who had led the 821st Space Base Group at Pituffik Space Base in Greenland since July, was fired following an internal email she sent to all base personnel on March 31—three days after Vance’s visit. In the message, she appeared to push back on remarks the vice president made during his trip, which called into question Denmark’s investment in both the people and security of the strategically important Arctic territory.
“I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base,” Meyers wrote in the email, first reported by Military.com.
Her remarks, confirmed as accurate by the Space Force, were seen by officials in Washington as an attempt to undercut the Trump administration’s foreign policy direction. Pentagon Chief of Staff Joe Kasper said in a statement, “Actions to undermine the chain of command or to subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Defense Department.”
The Space Force officially announced Meyers’ removal Thursday, citing a “loss of confidence in her ability to lead.” Col. Shawn Lee, formerly of Clear Space Force Station in Alaska, has taken over command of the base.
Vance, who traveled to Pituffik Space Base on March 28, used his visit to criticize Denmark’s handling of Greenland, a territory under Danish control. “You have not done a good job by the people of Greenland. You have underinvested in the people of Greenland, and you have underinvested in the security of this incredible, beautiful landmass,” Vance said.
The visit came amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to build support for a U.S. annexation of Greenland—an idea Trump has floated multiple times, framing it as a national security imperative. “We need Greenland for national security and international security,” the president said in March. “If we don’t have Greenland, we can’t have great international security.”
An American flag pin placed on Greenland on a world map, highlighting the geopolitical relationship and potential US interests in the Arctic region.
Following Vance’s comments, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen issued a response video, stating: “Many accusations and many allegations have been made… but let me be completely honest: We do not appreciate the tone in which it is being delivered. This is not how you speak to your close allies.”
Meyers’s firing has drawn strong support from conservative lawmakers. “Colonel Meyers tried to politicize the Space Force and was held accountable. Lloyd Austin isn’t SecDef anymore,” Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) wrote on X. Sens.
The backdrop of all this is Pituffik’s critical location for U.S. defense systems. Strategically positioned near the Arctic, the base plays a key role in missile detection and early warning systems. “If Russia were to send missiles towards the U.S., the shortest route… would be via the North Pole and Greenland,” said Marc Jacobsen of the Royal Danish Defence College to the BBC.
Still, Trump’s team remains committed to the idea. “President Trump has made his vision for an enhanced security footprint in the Arctic abundantly clear,” said Vice President Vance’s press secretary to Military.com. “The vice president is committed to implementing the president’s agenda.”