Gen. Christopher Donahue, the U.S. Army's top general in Europe and Africa and commander of NATO's Allied Land Command, is set to retire on July 2. His departure follows internal tensions within the Pentagon and a planned reduction in high-ranking officer positions. Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, Donahue's deputy, will assume command.
Sources familiar with the situation described Donahue's exit as voluntary, but suggested it stemmed from frustration with departmental management and the impending downgrade of his European command from a four-star to a three-star role. This change, anticipated as early as summer, would have necessitated Donahue relinquishing his command, which he has held since December 2024.
The Pentagon has experienced internal friction over the past year, particularly between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Reports indicate Hegseth dismissed Gen. Randy George, Driscoll's chief of staff, in April and appointed Gen. Christopher LaNeve as his replacement.
While Donahue is not believed to have taken sides in the dispute between Hegseth and Driscoll, he was reportedly weary of the “static” associated with working under Hegseth and LaNeve. LaNeve is described by one source as “very difficult” and disliked by other senior Army officers. This source speculated that LaNeve's assertive approach aligns with Hegseth's stated intention to reduce the number of four-star generals and admirals by 20%.
Another perspective suggests that resistance to change among some longtime Army officers, rather than LaNeve's personality, contributes to his unpopularity. The Army has not publicly stated a reason for Donahue's departure, only announcing the change of command.
Donahue, 56, gained prominence as the "last soldier to leave Afghanistan" during the U.S. withdrawal in August 2021, with widely circulated night-vision images capturing his departure. However, this distinction reportedly irked senior Pentagon staff, with some characterizing the images as a "photo op" that displeased Hegseth's inner circle. Doubts were also raised by military aides regarding whether Donahue was indeed the final American to exit Afghanistan. Furthermore, top aides to Hegseth reportedly criticized Donahue for allegedly using evacuation aircraft space for items intended for museums, a claim that could not be independently verified.
Policy issues, such as a U.S. troop withdrawal from Poland that was announced and then reversed in May, are not believed to have been factors in Donahue's decision to retire. It remains unclear where Donahue might have been assigned had he sought to continue his Army career following the downgrade of his European command. The news of Donahue's impending retirement was first confirmed by Fox News.