The Pentagon confirms the Army Chief of Staff was "resigned"

U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed on the 2nd that U.S. Army Chief of Staff Randy George is about to resign. Earlier, U.S. media reported that Defense Secretary Hagel had demanded that George resign and retire immediately. In a statement on social media, Parnell said that George “will immediately step down as the 41st Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army.” He did not specify the reason for George’s departure. The Army Chief of Staff is the highest-ranking military officer of the U.S. Army and typically serves a four-year term. George has held the position since 2023.

Earlier that day, CBS was first to report the news that Hagel had requested George’s resignation. An unnamed U.S. government official said Hagel hopes to appoint someone who can carry out President Donald Trump’s and Hagel’s own vision for the military to succeed George. The report said that the current Army Vice Chief of Staff, Christopher Lanive, who previously served as Hagel’s military aide, is likely being considered as George’s successor. Later, U.S. media, citing an unnamed Pentagon official, reported that Lanive would serve as acting Army Chief of Staff. The news has not yet been officially announced.

Since last January, the Trump administration has removed several senior military generals and officials. After Hagel took office as Secretary of Defense, he pushed for major reforms within the Department of Defense, calling for the reduction of at least 20% of active-duty four-star generals. High-ranking U.S. military officials—including then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown, Director of the National Security Agency and Commander of the U.S. Cyber Command Timothy Hough, Navy Secretary Lisa Franchetti, Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan, and Defense Secretary’s senior military assistant Jennifer Shott—were successively dismissed or forced into early retirement. ( Xinhua News Agency )