Americas

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to retire 'effective immediately,' Pentagon says

Defense Department 'is grateful for General George’s decades of service to our nation,' says spokesman

Diyar Güldoğan | 03.04.2026 - Update : 03.04.2026

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (L) and US Army Chief of Staff General Randy George (R) Attend the 2025 National POW - MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, DC on September 19, 2025, in Washington DC, United States.

Washington DC

The Pentagon announced Thursday that Gen. Randy A. George will retire from his role as the 41st Chief of Staff of the Army "effective immediately."

In a brief statement, the Department of Defense expressed appreciation for George’s decades of military service.

The department "is grateful for General George’s decades of service to our nation. We wish him well in his retirement," said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell in a statement.

Earlier, CBS News reported that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked Gen. George to step down and immediately retire.

Citing sources familiar with the decision, the report said Hegseth wants someone in the role who would implement President Donald Trump and his vision for the US Army.

In 2021-2022 under the Biden administration, George served as a senior military assistant to then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

George assumed his duties as the US Army chief of staff on Sept. 21, 2023.

The army chief of staff usually holds the position for a four-year term.

More than a dozen senior officers have been fired by Hegseth, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. C.Q. Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife and Defense Intelligence Agency head Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse.

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