US Army chief of staff fired by Hegseth, sources say

U.S. Army Chief of Staff Randy George was dismissed on Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to two U.S. defense officials and a source familiar with the situation, as reported by Reuters. This action is part of a series of changes among the highest-ranking officials at the Pentagon. Hegseth, who previously worked as a host on Fox News, is quickly altering the department to align with U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security goals. The Pentagon confirmed that George, who had over a year remaining in his term, “will be retiring from his position as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army effective immediately.” They expressed gratitude for George’s many years of service and wished him well in retirement. No specific reason was given for his exit, which occurs as the U.S. military increases its presence in the Middle East and conducts operations against Iran. While the Navy and Air Force are mainly responsible for these strikes, U.S. Army personnel have been sent to the region to support air defense systems. The Army, the largest branch of the U.S. military, has around 450,000 active-duty soldiers. Additionally, thousands from the elite 82nd Airborne Division have begun to arrive in the Middle East, possibly for ground operations in Iran. There had been no public indication of any conflict between Hegseth and George, even as Hegseth made controversial decisions like dismissing the Army’s top lawyer and organizing a large military parade for the Army’s 250th birthday, which coincided with Trump’s birthday.