Secretary of War Pete Hegseth forced out Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, along with Gen. David Hodne and Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., on Thursday, April 2, as part of an ongoing overhaul of senior military leadership. The moves come amid the United States' war with Iran and represent the latest in a broader purge that has seen over 20 top generals and admirals fired or sidelined since Hegseth took office.

George, who had served three years into his four-year term as the Army's top uniformed officer, was asked to retire effective immediately, according to Pentagon officials. Hodne commanded the Army Transformation and Training Command, while Green served as the Army's chief of chaplains since 2023. A Pentagon spokesman confirmed George's departure but provided no specific reason for the changes.

Gen. Christopher LaNeve, previously the Army's vice chief of staff, has taken over as acting chief of staff. Hegseth has described LaNeve as a "battle-tested leader with decades of operational experience."

The firings have drawn criticism from Democrats and some military experts, who warn of instability during wartime. Sen. Elissa Slotkin highlighted the removal of over 20 generals and admirals, including George, who served under seven presidents. House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith called the actions "baseless" and harmful to military readiness. Reports suggest Hegseth's decisions stem from a push for leaders aligned with President Donald Trump's vision and concerns over promotions and loyalty.

This is not the first round of changes under Hegseth. Last fall, he removed Army Vice Chief of Staff, Gen. James Mingus. Earlier, the administration fired Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. CQ Brown Jr. and directed cuts to four-star general positions. Supporters argue the shakeup addresses perceived failures in prior leadership, particularly in the context of the Iran conflict.

The Iran war escalated in recent months, with U.S. strikes intensifying and President Trump addressing the nation on April 1 to outline the next steps. Oil prices have risen amid disruptions, and military officials have raised alarms about the timing of the leadership shifts.

Republican Rep. Don Bacon defended the moves, stating that generals were fired "for cause." Hegseth has previously emphasized reforming the Pentagon to prioritize warfighting over what he calls "woke" policies.