Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked U.S. Army Chief of Staff Randy George to step down and immediately retire, two U.S. defense officials and a source told Reuters on Thursday, signaling another dramatic shift at the Pentagon.
Hegseth, who rose to public prominence as a Fox News host, has acted quickly to reorder senior ranks—relieving top generals and admirals—as he seeks to install leaders aligned with President Trump’s national security priorities.
A battle-tested infantry officer with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, George was confirmed to lead the Army in 2023; chiefs typically serve four-year terms. Prior to becoming chief of staff he was the Army’s vice chief and earlier served as the senior military adviser to then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
George’s requested exit deepens recent upheaval among senior military leaders at the Pentagon, joining last year’s firing of then-Joint Chiefs chairman Gen. C.Q. Brown and the departures of the chief of naval operations and the Air Force vice chief of staff.