Defense Secretary Hegseth Dismisses Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George from his position, effective immediately. 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, who assumed the role in September 2023, previously served as the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during the Biden administration. His tenure included overseeing the Army Transformation Initiative aimed at modernizing the force.

In an outgoing email to Pentagon officials, Gen. George emphasized the importance of leadership, stating that U.S. soldiers deserve "courageous leaders of character."

Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the current vice chief of staff and a former aide to Hegseth, will serve as acting Army chief of staff.

This leadership change occurs amid ongoing U.S. military operations in Iran, with over 50,000 troops deployed.