Hegseth ousts Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George [View all]

Source: CBS News

Updated on: April 2, 2026 / 4:40 PM EDT / CBS News


Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to step down and take immediate retirement, sources familiar with the decision told CBS News. One of the sources said Hegseth wants someone in the role who will implement President Trump and Hegseth's vision for the Army. A senior Defense Department official told CBS News, "We are grateful for his service, but it was time for a leadership change in the Army."

George previously served as the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin from 2021-2022, during the Biden administration, after decades of service. A career infantry officer and West Point graduate, George first served in the first Gulf War and the more recent conflicts of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Army chief of staff typically serves a four-year term. George was nominated for the position by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the Senate in 2023, meaning he would typically have held the position until 2027.

The current vice chief of staff of the Army, Gen. Christopher LaNeve, who was formerly Hegseth's military aide, will likely be considered as a replacement. He previously served as the commanding general of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division from 2022 to 2023.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hegseth-ousts-army-chief-of-staff-gen-randy-george/