Hegseth tells US Army chief of staff to step down immediately
Hegseth Orders Immediate Resignation of Army Chief of Staff
A Pentagon representative informed CNN that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed Gen. Randy George, the current Army Chief of Staff, to retire without delay. Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s press secretary, confirmed the decision on Thursday, 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 Defense expresses gratitude for his decades of service to our nation.”
CBS News was the first to report George’s removal, and a Defense Department official later validated the news. As Army Chief, George worked closely with Secretary Dan Driscoll, a key White House ally whom Hegseth has viewed as a potential rival. Their interactions were occasionally tense, contributing to George’s ouster. Hegseth has previously dismissed several high-ranking military figures during his time in office.
George, a lifelong infantry officer, joined the military in 1988 after graduating from the US Military Academy at West Point. He has held the role of Army Chief of Staff since September 2023, prior to which he commanded I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and served as a senior military assistant to Secretary Lloyd Austin under the Biden administration.
While the senior military assistant role is traditionally seen as a nonpartisan position, George’s association with Austin has drawn criticism from Hegseth’s inner circle. Rumors circulated when Hegseth nominated Gen. Chris LaNeve, his former senior military assistant, for the Army vice chief of staff role. LaNeve, who has served in the military since 1990 after graduating from the University of Arizona ROTC, is expected to take over as acting chief of staff once George steps down.
LaNeve’s Military Career and Trump Encounter
LaNeve’s career includes a brief stint as commander of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, before transitioning to lead the 8th Army in South Korea. The role of commanding the 82nd Airborne Division usually lasts two years, but LaNeve left the post under two years, moving to a special assistant role with US Army Forces Command before his current assignment.
“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 on a video call. “Welcome back, Mr. President.”
Trump praised LaNeve during the call, remarking, “Is this man central casting or what?” He also added, “They’re not going to play games with you. That’s good,” according to an official transcript of the event. “I like to see that. Nobody is playing games with that man.”
This story has been updated with additional details.
