Top US army officer steps down after Hegseth reportedly demanded removal

Randy George, the US army’s top officer, is stepping down from his role after the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, reportedly requested that he retire immediately. The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday that George, who had been serving as the army’s 41st chief of staff, was retiring.“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. We wish him well in his retirement,” Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement shared on social media.The position of army chief of staff is generally held for four years. George had been nominated by Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2023, which would normally have kept him in the role through 2027.Before becoming chief of staff, George worked as the senior military assistant to then defense secretary Lloyd Austin from 2021 to 2022 during the Biden administration. Over a long military career, the West Point graduate served in several conflicts, including in Iraq and Afghanistan.On Thursday, the US Military Academy shared photos of George’s recent visit, writing that he “shared experience-driven guidance with cadets preparing to lead” during an appearance.Since assuming leadership at the Pentagon, Hegseth has dismissed more than a dozen high-ranking officers. Those removed include air force vice-chief of staff James Slife and chief of naval operations Lisa Franchetti.George’s removal could potentially add to conflicts between Hegseth and army leadership. The defense secretary has been engulfed by many 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 also announced that army personnel who piloted two AH-64 Apache helicopters near Kid Rock’s home in Nashville would not be suspended, and he closed the investigation into the incident.Also earlier in the week, it was reported that Hegseth may be working to prevent the promotion of four military officers – two women and two Black men – to the rank of one-star general. Hegseth has been vocal about his plans for ridding the US military of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.