Hegseth Forces Army Chief of Staff to Retire Immediately
- Randy George, the Army’s chief of staff, to step down and retire immediately, multiple sources confirmed on Thursday.
- CBS News first reported the development, citing sources familiar with the decision.
- “General George will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately,” Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.
Washington D.C. – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked Gen. Randy George, the Army’s chief of staff, to step down and retire immediately, multiple sources confirmed on Thursday. The move, which comes as the U.S. Wages war against Iran, signals a desire for new leadership within the Army, according to officials.
CBS News first reported the development, citing sources familiar with the decision. Reuters and PBS NewsHour also confirmed the reports. Hegseth reportedly wants an Army leader who will implement the vision of President Trump and his own administration.
“General George will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately,” Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement. “The Department of War is grateful for General George’s decades of service to our nation. We wish him well in his retirement.”
A senior Defense Department official stated, “We are grateful for his service, but it was time for a leadership change in the Army.”
Gen. George, a career infantry officer and West Point graduate, previously served as the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin from 2021 to 2022 during the Biden administration. He has a long record of service, including deployments in the first Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2023, George was expected to serve as Army chief of staff until 2027, typically a four-year term. His removal comes earlier than anticipated.
Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the current vice chief of staff of the Army and formerly Hegseth’s military aide, will serve as acting Army chief of staff. Parnell described LaNeve as “a battle-tested leader with decades of operational experience and is completely trusted by Secretary Hegseth to carry out the vision of this administration without fault.” LaNeve previously commanded the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division from 2022 to 2023.
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point posted photos on social media on March 25 showing George “shared experience-driven guidance with cadets preparing to lead,” indicating recent engagement with the institution despite the impending change in leadership.