Top US army officer steps down after Hegseth reportedly demanded removal | US military
Randy George, the US military’s top officer, is leaving his post after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked him to retire immediately. The Pentagon confirmed Thursday that George, who served as the military’s 41st chief of staff, will retire.
“General Randy A George will retire as the Army’s 41st Chief of Staff, effective immediately. The War Department is grateful for General George’s decades of service to our nation. We wish him well in his retirement,” said Sean Parnell, chief Pentagon spokesman. a statement shared on social media.
The position of Chief of General Staff is generally held for four years. George was nominated by Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2023; this would normally keep him in office until 2027.
Before becoming chief of staff, George served as senior military assistant to then-defense secretary Lloyd Austin from 2021 to 2022 during the Biden administration. During a long military career, the West Point graduate served in many conflicts, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
US Military Academy on Thursday shared Photos from George’s last visit showed that during an appearance he “shared experience-based guidance with students preparing to lead.”
Since assuming leadership at the Pentagon, Hegseth has dismissed more than a dozen high-ranking officers. Those fired include Air Force deputy chief of staff James Slife and chief of naval operations Lisa Franchetti.
George’s removal could potentially escalate conflicts between Hegseth and army leaders. The defense secretary has been plagued by 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 closed the investigation into the incident by announcing that the military personnel who piloted two AH-64 Apache helicopters near Kid Rock’s home in Nashville would not be suspended.
It was also reported earlier in the week that Hegseth may have been working to block the promotion of four officers, two women and two black men, to the rank of one-star general. Hegseth has been vocal about his plans to rid the U.S. military of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
