...
By Ellie Cook
Senior Defense Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
One of the United States' most senior and respected generals is stepping down, becoming the latest top military official to leave during President Donald Trump's second term, in a move that could pave the way for dramatic changes to the U.S. presence in Europe.
General Chris Donahue, the head of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, as well as all NATO land forces in Europe, is resigning from his position as the top U.S. Army chief on the continent and will officially relinquish his command on July 2, according to a U.S. military official. The ceremony marking the end of Donahue's time as the head of Allied Land Command will follow roughly a week later, the U.S. military official told Newsweek.
A popular figure in Europe who has spent just 18 months in the job, Donahue is widely known as the last man out of Afghanistan and was seen as linked to the Biden administration, although he is generally admired by U.S. and NATO soldiers across ranks and political affiliations.
Read More on News
Donahue is often praised as an experienced leader deeply connected with European militaries. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a vocal critic of America's European allies, last year ordered a review of what he called the U.S.'s "disastrous and embarrassing" withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Donahue's exit is the latest in a string of high-profile departures since Hegseth's confirmation and accompanying pledge to purge "woke" generals and admirals while stripping away diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) criteria he claimed have made the U.S. military less effective.
...
Lieutenant General Kevin Admiral, who currently reports to Donahue as head of the U.S. Army's III Corps but is based at Fort Hood, Texas, is a frontrunner to replace Donahue, the U.S. military official said, although they stressed no concrete decisions had been made.
A permanent replacement for Donahue will need to be approved by Congress.
Hegseth Criticizes European Allies
Donahue's resignation comes just days after Hegseth leveled fresh criticism at the U.S.'s European allies, berating swathes of Europe for low defense spending, an overreliance on the U.S. and a refusal to become embroiled in the Iran war on Washington's behalf.
The Pentagon chief also announced a six-month-long review into U.S. forces in Europe.
European members of NATO have conceded the U.S. will likely pull out some of the approximately 80,000 troops deployed on the continent, which have long been a key way of showing U.S. support for Europe's defense. But many had hoped the process could be incremental, to offer Europe a chance to backfill many of the assets the U.S. will snatch back.
One retired U.S. Army general, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject, told Newsweek that "neither Europe nor the U.S. will be stronger or better" when Donahue steps back.
European commanders will likely be frustrated by this loss, said Ed Arnold, a senior associate fellow with the London-based defense think tank, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).
It's understood that Donahue had a close relationship with the current head of the British Army, General Sir Roly Walker.
Donahue is "universally regarded very highly across the British Army," a British military official said.
Hegseth "Forcing Out Senior Officers"
A second retired U.S. general, also speaking on condition of anonymity, called Donahue's departure "yet another example of Secretary Hegseth forcing out senior officers without any explanation of cause."
Arnold told Newsweek that "this is not an isolated incident." A handful of flag officers—generals or admirals in the U.S. military—typically leave their posts during an administration, but "this is something completely different," he added.
Hegseth has fired or pushed aside more than 20 top officers across the armed forces, including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General C.Q. Brown, who is black, and Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve as head of naval operations. He's also reportedly stopped dozens of promotions across the U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy.
Donahue "had more to give to the Army," Arnold said. "He's been removed early."
Observers, former officials and current U.S. lawmakers have also raised concerns over the dismissal of the top U.S. military lawyers, fearing U.S. soldiers could end up making legally dubious or illegal decisions in operations. Hegseth has called military lawyers "roadblocks" and vowed to "untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country."
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Frances Mao and Sam Wilson.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines