High-ranking Army General Chris Donahue to Retire Unexpectedly

WHO:

CBS News - Gen. Chris Donahue is a West Point graduate and former Delta Force commander.

ABC News - Lt. Gen. Kevin Admiral, the current commander of the Army’s III Armored Corps, is expected to be nominated to take over Donahue's role.

ABC News - Gen. Chris Donahue, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Lt. Gen. Kevin Admiral

CBS News - Gen. Chris Donahue, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

WHAT:

CBS News - Donahue is one of more than a dozen senior officers who have recently been shown the door during the second Trump administration.

CNN - Gen. Chris Donahue is slated to retire on July 2.

CNN - Donahue will relinquish command as the Allied Land Forces commander in a ceremony in Turkey on July 9.

CNN - Donahue's deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will perform the duties of US Army Europe and Africa commanding general until a permanent replacement is nominated.

ABC News - Gen. Chris Donahue is expected to announce his retirement as soon as Wednesday.

Fox News - Donahue is retiring from his command by early next month.

ABC News - Gen. Chris Donahue is expected to announce his retirement.

ABC News - Donahue has led U.S. Army Europe and Africa for the past 18 months.

ABC News - The command Donahue leads is set to be downgraded from a four-star command to a three-star post.

CBS News - Donahue has submitted his retirement papers.

CBS News - Donahue is known for being the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan during the 2021 withdrawal.

WHERE:

ABC News - U.S. Army Europe and Africa command

WHEN:

ABC News - Donahue is expected to announce his retirement as soon as Wednesday.

CBS News - The article states that Donahue's departure marks the latest high-level officer to leave the military during the second Trump administration.

WHY:

CBS News - Donahue was reportedly forced out by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

CNN - Donahue's stepping down has been in conversation for at least two months and was not an abrupt decision.

CNN - The transition to a three-star command has been anticipated for roughly a year.

ABC News - Donahue's departure is part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's broader push to shrink the number of generals across the force.

ABC News - Donahue's departure comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reshaping senior Pentagon leadership and has been firing or sidelining top officers.

CBS News - Donahue had clashed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

HOW:

CNN - The US military is expecting to see the closure of the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine command, which was established in 2022, involving the reassignment of roughly 300 personnel.

CNN - The US military is expecting to see the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine command get shut down, with the closure of SAG-U expected to involve the reassignment of roughly 300 personnel.

ABC News - The downsizing of the command structure is part of Hegseth’s broader push to reduce the number of generals across the force.

(UPDATED June 25, 2026 01:39 UTC)

General Chris Donahue, a West Point graduate and former Delta Force commander, is among more than a dozen senior officers who have recently been dismissed during the Trump administration. Reports indicate that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was responsible for Donahue's departure. In related news, the US military anticipates the closure of the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine command, which was established in 2022, leading to the reassignment of approximately 300 personnel.

(UPDATED June 24, 2026 23:22 UTC)

General Chris Donahue is set to retire on July 2, and he will officially relinquish command as the Allied Land Forces commander during a ceremony in Turkey on July 9. His deputy, Major General Christopher Norrie, will take on the responsibilities of US Army Europe and Africa commanding general until a permanent replacement is nominated. The US military anticipates the closure of the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine command, which is expected to involve the reassignment of approximately 300 personnel.

(UPDATED June 24, 2026 15:51 UTC)

General Chris Donahue is expected to announce his retirement as soon as Wednesday, stepping down from his command by early next month. Lt. General Kevin Admiral, currently the commander of the Army’s III Armored Corps, is anticipated to be nominated to take over Donahue's role. This change comes as part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's broader initiative to reduce the number of generals across the force.

(UPDATED June 24, 2026 04:24 UTC)

General Chris Donahue is expected to announce his retirement from his position leading U.S. Army Europe and Africa, a role he has held for the past 18 months. His departure comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reshaping senior Pentagon leadership, which includes downgrading the command structure from a four-star command to a three-star post and sidelining top officers. Donahue, who is known for being the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan during the 2021 withdrawal, is anticipated to make this announcement as soon as Wednesday.