Pete Hegseth ousts US Army Chief Randy George, orders immediate retirement

WASHINGTON: United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has requested the immediate retirement of Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, according to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CBS News. The decision marks a significant leadership transition as the administration seeks a commander who “will implement President Trump and Hegseth’s vision for the Army.”

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the departure in a statement, noting that George “will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army, effective immediately”. Parnell expressed the Department of War’s gratitude for the General’s “decades of service to our nation” and offered well wishes for his future.

A senior official within the Defence Department further clarified the move to CBS News, stating, “We are grateful for his service, but it was time for a leadership change in the Army.”

US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George has been told to retire immediately by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a Pentagon official told CNN. https://t.co/ZfR3gWqaW2 pic.twitter.com/C2Cg2gueG9

— CNN (@CNN) April 2, 2026

George, a West Point graduate and career infantry officer, previously served as the senior military assistant to Lloyd Austin during the Biden administration and has held his current post since his Senate confirmation in 2023. Under typical circumstances, his four-year term would have concluded in 2027.

Stepping into the role as acting Army chief of staff is General Christopher LaNeve, the current vice chief of staff and a former military aide to Hegseth.

CBS News reports that LaNeve previously commanded the 82nd Airborne Division and is described by Parnell as “a battle-tested leader with decades of operational experience” who is “completely trusted by Secretary Hegseth to carry out the vision of this administration without fault.”

The removal of General George is part of a broader restructuring within the military hierarchy. Hegseth has already dismissed over a dozen high-ranking officers, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General C Q Brown, and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti.

According to CBS News, these changes coincide with Hegseth’s recent intervention in an Army disciplinary matter, where he overruled the suspension of an aircrew that flew by a celebrity’s residence, declaring on social media, “No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots.”

Despite the timing of these events, a source informed CBS News that the decision to oust George was not linked to the helicopter controversy. George’s distinguished career included deployments during the first Gulf War, as well as operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Just days prior to his retirement, he was seen at West Point sharing “experience-driven guidance with cadets preparing to lead” during a scheduled visit. (ANI)