Gen. Christopher Donahue Relinquishes Command Of U.S. Army Europe And Africa On July 2

Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa and commander of NATO’s Allied Land Command, will relinquish command on July 2 after an unusually brief 18-month tenure, the Army confirmed late Tuesday.

“Key Army general relinquishing command Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has sought to reshape senior Pentagon leadership”

ABC News

The Associated Press said Donahue’s deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will perform his duties in the meantime, while the Army statement also said the service thanks Donahue for his leadership of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

ABC News

The Washington Post reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stonewalled behind-the-scenes efforts to extend Donahue’s career, leading the general to submit retirement paperwork and prepare to step down.

The Washington Post also tied Donahue’s rise and later political targeting to his role in the U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan, including that he told investigators, "We told them that we would control the gates and they would push people out."

AP noted that on Aug. 30, 2021, Donahue became the last U.S. soldier to depart Afghanistan after nearly 20 years of war sparked by the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Republican lawmakers praised Donahue after news broke that he was abruptly retiring, with Rep. Don Bacon telling the Washington Examiner, "I think he is owed an explanation."

The Washington Examiner said Donahue’s recognition as the last U.S. service member to leave Afghanistan following the two-decadelong war following the 9/11 terrorist attacks may have prompted Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s decision, while the Pentagon declined to comment about the announcement.

AP News

The Washington Post described Donahue’s departure as the latest apparent casualty in Hegseth’s purge of senior military leaders whom the secretary deemed insufficiently loyal to the Trump administration or branded “woke” for their past defense of diversity initiatives.

The Washington Post quoted a retired senior Army officer saying of Donahue, "He’s singularly our best warfighter at every level," as it reported that Hegseth has fired or otherwise removed dozens of generals and admirals.

AP reported that Donahue’s leadership during the evacuation had drawn bipartisan praise, and said it was unclear what specific new information the new Pentagon review is seeking.

AP said Donahue’s departure comes as the Army is discussing downgrading U.S. Army Europe and Africa from four-star to a three-star command, a move an Army official said would come as Hegseth has been criticizing European allies.

CNN reported that Donahue’s exit coincides with the planned decision to lower the required rank for its chief from a four-star general to a three-star general and a series of moves by Hegseth to alter the U.S. footprint in Europe.

Stars and Stripes said Donahue has been in command for less than two years in the position and that he will leave his post July 2, with his deputy Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie serving as acting commander.

Stars and Stripes also quoted Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., saying Hegseth “would do well to surround himself with more patriots like General Donahue and to get his henchmen, who are not qualified to carry Donahue’s bag, out of the Pentagon,” as it described concerns about a downgrade to a three-star command.

The Washington Post added that Hegseth’s team plans to downgrade Donahue’s role and many others across the services to three-star commands, while the administration has not yet nominated anyone for those roles.