Hegseth tells US Army chief of staff to step down immediately
Army Chief of Staff Ordered to Retire by Defense Secretary
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed Gen. Randy George, the current US Army Chief of Staff, to retire immediately, a Pentagon official informed CNN. Sean Parnell, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, verified the announcement on X, stating, “General Randy A. George will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately. The Department of War is grateful for General George’s decades of service to our nation.”
Context and Political Tensions
The move follows President Donald Trump’s speech on the Iran war, in which he emphasized plans to increase strikes against Iran. Earlier, Trump had suggested the conflict might conclude within two to three weeks. George, who has worked alongside Army Secretary Dan Driscoll—a senior White House-linked official—has faced scrutiny from Hegseth, who perceives Driscoll as a rival. This marks another instance of Hegseth’s tendency to replace high-ranking military leaders during his time in office.
George’s Career and Role in the Pentagon
George, a career infantry officer, graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1988. He has served as Army Chief of Staff since September 2023, having previously commanded I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and acted as senior military assistant to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during the Biden administration. Despite the apolitical nature of the senior military assistant role, his association with Austin has been seen as a liability by Hegseth’s inner circle.
LaNeve’s Promotion and Background
Gen. Chris LaNeve, Hegseth’s senior military assistant, is expected to assume the Army vice chief of staff role. LaNeve, who began his military career in 1990 after graduating from the University of Arizona ROTC, previously commanded the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He transitioned to leading 8th Army in South Korea, according to his official biography. The 82nd Airborne Division commander role usually lasts two years, but LaNeve left before completing his term.
LaNeve’s Interaction with Trump
“Sir, on behalf of the brave men and women who serve under my command and the thousands of dedicated service members that are part of the joint team in Korea, congratulations on your victory as the 47th President of the United States,” LaNeve said during a video call at Trump’s inauguration. “Welcome back, Mr. President.”
Trump praised LaNeve, remarking, “Is this man central casting or what?” and added, “They’re not going to play games with you. That’s good. I like to see that. Nobody is playing games with that man.”
This story has been updated with additional details.
