US defence chief removes army’s top general, two other key officers Photo

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked the Army’s top officer, Gen. Randy George, to step down and retire immediately, defence officials confirmed on April 2, marking a rare leadership change during an active conflict with Iran.

George, the most senior general in the United States Army, had been nominated in 2023 by then-President Joe Biden for a standard four-year term. His early departure comes as elements of the 82nd Airborne Division deploy to the Middle East amid escalating hostilities, Axios reports.

Two other senior officers were also removed from their posts: Gen. David Hodne, who led the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command, and Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., head of the Chaplain Corps. Defence officials did not provide detailed reasons for the dismissals.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed George’s retirement in a statement, thanking him for his decades of service. The Pentagon has not elaborated on the rationale behind the broader leadership shake-up.

George and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll had previously launched the Army Transformation Initiative, aimed at restructuring commands and phasing out older equipment considered outdated or excess. The reforms included consolidating certain formations and retiring legacy aircraft and vehicles.

The move is the latest in a series of senior military departures under Hegseth. Earlier this year, Adm. Alvin Holsey left his post leading United States Southern Command during operations targeting suspected drug trafficking routes near Venezuela.

Gen. Christopher LaNeve, a former aide to Hegseth, will serve as acting Army chief of staff pending a permanent appointment.

The leadership changes come at a sensitive moment for the United States military, as it manages active deployments and heightened regional tensions, developments closely watched by allies and adversaries worldwide.

By Sabina Mammadli