Pentagon Leadership Shakeup Continues as Army Gen. Christopher Donahue Steps Down

Army Gen. Christopher Donahue formally relinquished command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa on Thursday during a ceremony in Wiesbaden, Germany, marking the end of his tenure after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unexpectedly removed him from the position last month.
Donahue, 56, departs after serving 18 months in one of the Army’s most prominent overseas leadership roles. Long viewed as one of the military’s rising leaders, he built a career spanning decades in the special operations community before taking command of major conventional forces.
Speaking during the relinquishment ceremony, Donahue reflected on his time leading the organization and praised the soldiers who served alongside him.
“I love this team, it has been the honor of a lifetime to be a part of it. I’m proud of what we built and I have absolute confidence in what you will build next,” Donahue said.
He also expressed pride in the command itself, calling it the Army’s premier warfighting headquarters.
“So, when people ask me, ‘Hey CD, what was it like to be a part of United States Army Europe and Africa?’ I only have to tell them how proud and unbelievably grateful I am to have been a part of the United States Army’s premier warfighting headquarters,” he said.
A former Army Ranger and member of Delta Force, Donahue steadily rose through the ranks during a distinguished military career. He eventually commanded the elite Delta Force before later leading the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division.
Donahue became widely recognized during the final days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. As commander of the 82nd Airborne Division, he helped oversee the evacuation of allies from Kabul’s international airport during the chaotic and deadly withdrawal. He is regarded as the last American soldier to leave Kabul, with a widely circulated night-vision image showing him boarding the final C-17 aircraft becoming one of the defining photographs of the war.
Following his departure, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, Donahue’s deputy, will assume command in an acting capacity until President Trump names a permanent successor. Donahue had originally been nominated to the position by former President Biden.
Neither the Army nor the Pentagon has publicly explained the reason for Donahue’s removal. However, Hegseth has previously argued that the Defense Department should reduce the number of generals and admirals serving across the military.
Donahue’s exit is part of a broader series of leadership changes at the Pentagon. Since last year, Hegseth has removed or replaced at least a dozen senior military leaders while broader reviews of the U.S. military’s global posture continue.
At the same time, the military is evaluating its footprint across Europe as President Trump has pushed to reduce the number of American troops stationed on the continent, a move that has drawn concern from some lawmakers.
Among those criticizing Donahue’s removal was Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who posted sharply worded comments on the social media platform X last week.
“Strong leaders are not threatened by accomplished commanders. Weak ones are,” Tillis wrote. “[Hegseth’s] paranoid micromanagement of senior military leaders and promotion lists is pure insecurity dressed up as reform. He is more interested in purging people he perceives as insufficiently loyal than empowering proven patriots who can actually lead.”
In addition to leading U.S. Army Europe and Africa, Donahue also serves as commander of NATO’s Allied Land Forces Command in Izmir, Turkey. He is scheduled to relinquish that command on July 9, bringing another chapter of his military career to a close.