WASHINGTON — The Pentagon confirmed Thursday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has requested the resignation of the Army’s highest-ranking uniformed leader, Gen. Randy George, during ongoing military operations against Iran.
An unnamed Pentagon source, speaking confidentially about the sensitive personnel decision, verified that George has been directed to pursue early retirement from his position as Army chief of staff, a role he has occupied since August 2023.
This dismissal of George represents another addition to the extensive list of over a dozen high-ranking military officials who have been terminated by Hegseth since assuming his position last year.
The development was initially disclosed by CBS News.
George brings extensive military credentials as a West Point graduate and infantry specialist who participated in combat operations during the original Gulf War and later deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. His career included serving as the principal military advisor to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin between 2021 and 2022 under the Biden presidency, prior to advancing to senior Army leadership positions.
George managed to survive Hegseth’s first wave of dismissals in February, which eliminated several top military commanders, including Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who led the Navy’s uniformed personnel, and Gen. Jim Silfe, the Air Force’s second-in-command. President Donald Trump simultaneously dismissed Gen. Charles “C.Q.” Brown from his role as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Following that initial purge, over a dozen additional senior military generals and admirals have either accepted early retirement or faced removal from their positions.
The departures included George’s second-in-command, Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus, who held the position for under two years before Trump unexpectedly selected Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve as his replacement. LaNeve had been functioning as Hegseth’s principal military advisor after being transferred from his command of the Eighth Army in South Korea, where he served less than twelve months.
