Hegseth ousts Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George

[BumRushDaShow]

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/

[JBTaurus83]

1. Another sycophant incoming.

[EarthFirst]

2. Someone's Iran math wasn't mathing with Hegseth's... nt

[paleotn]

9. Casualties. Lots and lots of casualties.

Donnie and Whisky Pete doesn't want to hear about no casualties.

[orangecrush]

3. Refused illegal orders

Bet on it.

[wolfie001]

4. This is a good thing for that general

Being kicked out of that now murderous organization is a medal in itself. 2 POS: hogshead and tRUMP.

[orangecrush]

7. Agree

[bluestarone]

5. How in the fuck can a no good DRUNK bastard DESTROY a life of a soldier that really cares

About our great country? Jesus Christ somebody has to STOP these fuckers running our country today before it's to late.

[MyOwnPeace]

12. Remember,

there's a whole bunch of Republicans sitting over there in the Senate that APPROVED these asshole appointments: Blondi, Kegseth, Wormbrain Kennedy, etc. And don't forget, there were some Democrats who voted along with the Repugs, 'honoring' the right of a President to select his own cabinet.
What about the right of Americans having smart, intelligent, honest members in service of/to/for our country?

[angryxyouth]

13. And one Democrat from Pennsylvania

Looks like I’m making another phone call to Fetterman tomorrow. Not that it helps.

[thought crime]

17. Vichy America

[progressoid]

6. huh

I'm kind of surprised he wasn't shown the door earlier.

[jgmiller]

8. When these people are gone there will have to be a lot of house cleaning done

The good news is this has happened before, not every military leader throughout the history of the US has been great or even competent. The new guy Hegseth picks might be horrible but whatever he does can be fixed.

This has nothing to do with Trump or Hegseth but honestly our military has been doing a lot of stupid things for a while especially on the weapons system side. It's not such a bad thing that we churn through some of these people.

[ChicagoTeamster]

10. He probably wants the former 82nd ABN commander bc he's planning on using them in Iran.

[Kid Berwyn]

11. I smell Kid Rock

The dry drunk Hegseth said it's OK for Apache pilots to visit the MAGA entertainer on duty.

Wonder if Gen. George said, "No, it's not."

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

14. A drunk and a chickenhawk want to reshape the Army

[duckworth969]

15. Boots on the ground this weekend

[angrychair]

16. This is a very bad indicator

That they are cleaning house of anyone that can stand in their way.

This is about more than boots on that ground. The military is compromised and absolutely not on our side. They have chosen to ride with the fascists.

[Lonestarblue]

18. It seems that a Fox talking head thinks he's a great military leader instead of the incompetent fool he is.

The media needs to start hinting that Hegseth misguided Trump into attacking Iran and wasting billions of taxpayer dollars. Trump tends to fire anyone who makes him look bad.

[nwliberalkiwi]

19. Just a little Question

What's to stop Trump from using a nuclear weapon---he's just crazy enough!!!

[BumRushDaShow]

20. "What's to stop Trump from using a nuclear weapon"

Anybody associated with actually deploying one. There is no "push the button from the 'nuclear football' and it happens" thing. There is a whole process involved with the people (necessarily including approvals and checks and balances), who would carry such an order out.

[travelingthrulife]

21. I am guessing those checks and balances would disappear just like all the rest of

them have. Plenty of MAGA fools in the military.

[BumRushDaShow]

22. The one "check"

is the "legacy" that he wants to maintain for his children and even if he tries such a foolhardy move, I think the wife and ex-wife and kids might intervene.

As it is, there are over 1 million active duty military, and they are DEFINITELY NOT 100% MAGats (even at the higher levels since there are so many layered at those higher levels). I think this is why you hear the retired military keep emphasizing the thing about not carrying out "illegal orders" (as a reminder). These people have seen Presidents and Secretaries and Defense come and go.

It's just like me as a civilian, who worked under 6 Presidents and 9 HHS Secretaries (confirmed and Actings).