WASHINGTON, United States — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to step down and take immediate retirement, in an abrupt leadership shake-up at the Pentagon, according to multiple media reports.
Two U.S. defense officials told Reuters that George was removed on Thursday despite having more than a year left in his tenure, with no official reason publicly provided for the decision.
George, who has served as the Army’s 41st chief since 2023, was instructed to retire effective immediately, a move confirmed by Pentagon officials following earlier reporting by CBS News.
The sudden removal comes at a sensitive time, as the United States conducts ongoing military operations in the Middle East, making the dismissal of the Army’s top uniformed officer unusual and potentially consequential for operational continuity.
Officials indicated that Gen. Christopher LaNeve, currently serving as Army vice chief of staff, is expected to step in on an acting basis while a permanent replacement is considered.
George’s departure is part of a broader reshuffle within the Pentagon under Hegseth, who has moved to restructure senior military leadership since taking office. Reports indicate that other senior officers, including Gen. David Hodne and Maj. Gen. William Green were also removed in the latest round of changes.
The Pentagon thanked George for his decades of service, noting he would retire immediately after nearly four decades in uniform.
A career infantry officer commissioned from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1988, George served in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Gulf War before assuming senior Pentagon roles.
His tenure as Army chief began in 2023 following Senate confirmation for what is traditionally a four-year term expected to run until 2027.
The Defense Department has not disclosed the reasons behind the decision, and it remains unclear whether a permanent replacement will be nominated immediately.
