General Chris Donahue, a decorated officer and the head of U.S. Army operations in Europe and Africa, is set to resign, his retirement expected to be announced soon. Donahue's departure comes as Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly prepares to downgrade his command from a four-star to a three-star post, stripping it of its highest rank and associated prestige.
Donahue, 56, has amassed two decades of combat experience and commanded the Army's elite Delta Force and the 82nd Airborne Division. He was notably the last American service member to depart Afghanistan in 2021, an image of him boarding a C-17 aircraft becoming widely circulated.
The move is seen as part of a larger effort by Hegseth to reshape senior leadership within the Pentagon, a process that critics describe as a purge of officials perceived as insufficiently loyal. This shake-up has reportedly intensified in recent weeks, particularly following a U.S. military confrontation with Iran. Supporters of the changes argue they represent a necessary streamlining of the general officer corps, while detractors express concern that sidelining experienced commanders could weaken military leadership during a volatile period.
This is not the first instance of significant leadership changes under Hegseth. In April, Army Chief of Staff General Randy George was removed, along with the Army's chief of chaplains and the head of Army Transformation and Training Command. These removals followed previous clashes, including Hegseth's decision to block the promotion of four Army officers. Since Hegseth took office, more than a dozen generals and admirals, including the Joint Chiefs Chairman and the Chief of Naval Operations, have been ousted.
Donahue's departure also coincides with the Pentagon's announcement of a six-month review of troop levels in Europe. This review is intended to scale back the U.S. military presence on the continent, with the stated goal of shifting more defense responsibilities to European allies. The evaluation includes assessing troop numbers, fighter jets, drones, warships, and submarines stationed in the region.
Lieutenant General Kevin Admiral is expected to be nominated by Hegseth to succeed Donahue in leading Army operations in Europe and Africa.