U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Forces Early Retirement of Gen. Christopher Donahue

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked an internal effort to extend the career of Gen. Christopher Donahue, prompting the commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa—and NATO’s Allied Land Command—to submit retirement paperwork. Donahue will leave his post on 2 July 2026 after only 18 months in the role, ending a distinguished 30‑year career that included leading Delta‑Force operations, overseeing the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, and supporting Ukraine after Russia’s invasion. His departure is the latest in a wave of senior officer exits under Hegseth, who has pursued a “less generals, more troops” policy and aims to cut senior‑officer billets by about 10 %. Critics, including Senate Democrats, argue the purge threatens military readiness and appears politically motivated. The Army has named Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie as interim commander. A retired senior officer described Donahue as “by far our best fighter at every level.” The move has drawn concern from NATO allies about continuity of U.S. leadership in Europe.