WASHINGTON (The Thursday Times) — General Randy George, the U.S. Army’s chief of staff, has stepped down after Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth asked him to take immediate retirement, marking the latest shift in a sweeping leadership overhaul at the Pentagon.
The move, first reported by CBS News and confirmed by multiple outlets, comes as the administration seeks to reshape senior military leadership. Officials familiar with the decision said Hegseth wanted someone in the role who would implement the administration’s vision for the Army.
General George, a career infantry officer and West Point graduate, had served as Army chief of staff since 2023 and was expected to remain in the role until 2027, the typical four-year term for the post. His departure therefore represents an unusually abrupt change at the top of the service.
The Pentagon did not publicly specify detailed reasons for the leadership change. However, defence officials described it as part of a broader effort to align the military’s senior ranks with strategic priorities set by President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Hegseth.
General George previously served as vice chief of staff of the Army and earlier as senior military assistant to former Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. He deployed in major operations including the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan during a decades-long career.
Following his departure, Vice Chief of Staff General Christopher LaNeve is expected to serve as acting Army chief, continuing operational leadership during the transition.
George’s exit comes amid a wider series of senior military changes, with more than a dozen high-ranking officers replaced over the past year as part of the Pentagon’s ongoing leadership reset.
The decision underscores the scale of transformation underway within the U.S. defence establishment, where rapid leadership turnover is reshaping the Army and broader military hierarchy at a moment of heightened global tensions.∎
