The Trump administration appears to be sending a simple message to military and Pentagon personnel: if your mission is resisting the commander-in-chief instead of carrying out lawful policy, don’t expect to keep a comfortable government desk.

The latest example is Brandon Newsom, director of business operations in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy. After undercover journalist James O’Keefe released hidden-camera footage allegedly showing Newsom boasting that he planned to remain in government to “undo” Trump administration policies. Newsom has 16 years of service and his job is to oversee important corporate operations including HR, IT, facilities, security, and records management.

He told O’Keefe, “I have the influence….I can undo whatever’s been done…When the election changes… I want to stay and stick it out so that when the time comes, I can undo whatever’s been done.”

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Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao wasted little time placing him on administrative leave while he is being investigated. Cao said using a government position to undermine the policies of elected leaders is “inappropriate and incompatible with the standards expected of Department personnel.”

According to the video, Newsom also criticized President Donald Trump personally and called him a “narcissist.”

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It’s about time officials like these are being scrutinized – and, if the allegations are true, shown the door. Military officers and Pentagon employees don’t swear an oath to undermine the commander-in- chief because they disagree with the election results or the president’s policies. They swear an oath to support and defend the Constitution and to faithfully carry out the lawful duties of their office.

If someone’s priority is using a government job to obstruct a duly elected president rather than execute lawful policy, they’re in the wrong profession. The Pentagon exists to defend the nation, not serve as a political resistance movement. If they can’t do the job they swore to do, they should find another one.