US Army Chief of Staff Randy George asked to step down

Washington: U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Randy George has been asked to step down and take immediate retirement by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to two U.S. defence officials and a source familiar with the development, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Hegseth, a former media professional, has initiated changes within the Department of Defense as part of efforts to realign the leadership in line with the national security agenda of President Donald Trump.

General George, an infantry officer with service experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, was confirmed as the Army Chief of Staff in 2023. The tenure for the position typically runs for four years.

Before assuming the top Army position, George served as Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. He had also served as the senior military adviser to former Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.

His removal comes amid leadership changes at the Pentagon in recent months, including the removal of senior military officials such as the previous Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, as well as the Chief of Naval Operations and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

The office of General George did not immediately respond to requests for comment, the report said.