The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Al Jazeera has reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked Army Chief of Staff Randy A. George to step down with immediate effect, as part of a series of high-level dismissals in the U.S. military.
According to the report, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that George “will be retiring from his position,” without providing further details about the sudden decision during wartime.
The dismissal was first reported by CBS, which quoted a source saying Hegseth wants a leader who will implement his and U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision for the army.
General George, 61, was appointed in 2023 under former President Joe Biden and has served in multiple overseas deployments, including Iraq and Afghanistan. He is credited with efforts to reduce inefficiencies in the army and introduce new technologies such as drone-based missile interceptors and artificial intelligence systems.
A report by The New York Times indicated that disagreements between George and Hegseth over the blocking of several officer promotions may have contributed to his removal, raising concerns among some officials.
Al Jazeera also reported that two other senior officials — David M. Hodne and William Green Jr. — were dismissed, although the Pentagon has not confirmed their removals.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said experienced generals may be opposing current military plans regarding Iran, describing the dismissals as part of a broader pattern.
