The Pentagon announced on Thursday that General Randy George, the US Army's top officer, is retiring effective immediately after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly requested his removal. George had served as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army since his nomination by President Joe Biden and Senate confirmation in 2023, a role typically held for four years.
Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the retirement in a statement, expressing gratitude for George's decades of service. Before becoming chief of staff, George served as senior military assistant to former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin from 2021 to 2022. A West Point graduate, he served in conflicts including Iraq and Afghanistan.
According to the AFP news agency, General David Hodne and Major General William Green Jr were also removed alongside George. Hodne led the army's transformation and training command, while Green headed the chaplain corps. Since taking office, Hegseth has dismissed over a dozen high-ranking officers, including Air Force Vice-Chief of Staff James Slife and Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti.
George's removal may exacerbate tensions between Hegseth and army leadership. Hegseth has faced multiple scandals, including allegations of war crimes in the Caribbean and an inspector general report accusing him of mishandling classified military intelligence. Earlier this week, Hegseth also closed an investigation into army pilots who flew Apache helicopters near Kid Rock's home and reportedly moved to block promotions of four officers—two women and two Black men—citing his opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
