Army Chief of Staff Randy George awaits testimony before the start of the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the Department of the Army’s fiscal year 2025 budget Thursday, April 18, 2024, in the Hart Senate Office Building.
Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call Inc. | Getty Images
In the latest purge of top Pentagon officials, Army Chief of Staff Randy George was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday, three U.S. defense officials told Reuters.
Although Mr. Hegseth, a former Fox News host, moved quickly to reorganize the department, firing a general during wartime is almost unprecedented.
The Pentagon confirmed that George, who has more than a year left in his term, will “immediately retire from his position as the 41st Army Chief of Staff.”
The Pentagon said in a statement that it is grateful for George’s decades of service. “We wish him well in his retirement.”
Two of the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Mr. Hegseth also fired Gen. David Hoddon, head of the Army Transformation and Training Command, and Maj. Gen. William Green, head of the Army Chaplain Corps.
The department did not give a reason for George’s resignation, but the move comes as the U.S. military continues to expand its military presence in the Middle East while carrying out operations against Iran.
U.S. attacks in the region are primarily carried out by the Navy and Air Force, although U.S. Army soldiers are sent to the Middle East for air defense systems. The Army is the largest branch of the U.S. military, with approximately 450,000 active duty soldiers.
Thousands of soldiers from the U.S. Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division have also begun arriving in the Middle East and may take part in ground operations in Iran.
Recent turmoil at the Pentagon
U.S. Army Secretary Pete Hegseth (left) and Gen. Randy George stand for clearance and screening during the Department of the Army’s 2025 National Prisoner of War/MIA Recognition Day Ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, September 19, 2025.
Kevin Dietch | Getty Images
There have been no public signs of friction between Hegseth and George, even though Hegseth has been moving forward with controversial moves such as firing the Army’s top lawyer and organizing a massive military parade to celebrate the Army’s 250th anniversary, which coincides with President Trump’s birthday.
Earlier this week, Hegseth also reversed the Army’s decision to investigate an Army pilot who was flying an attack helicopter near singer Kid Rock’s home, in a clear show of support for Trump supporters.
CBS News, which first reported the firing, said it was unrelated to the Kid Rock incident.
One of the officials said Gen. Christopher Laneve, the Army’s vice chief of staff and a former military aide to Mr. Hegseth, will take over Mr. George’s role on his behalf.
Another official added that Army leaders learned of George’s firing as soon as it was announced.
George, an infantry officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been confirmed to take up the Army’s top post in 2023. The term of office is normally four years.
Before taking the top job, George served as deputy secretary of the Army and before that as senior military advisor to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
He was considered close to Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll. The two sides have teamed up to acquire major defense companies to help the Army accelerate weapons development and reduce costs.
George’s firing adds to recent turmoil at all levels of Pentagon leadership, including last year’s firings of Air Force Gen. Brown, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, chief of naval operations and vice chief of staff of the Air Force.
George’s office did not respond to requests for comment.
