Resignation of U.S. Army General Donahue and NATO Allies Challenges

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently delivered a significant speech in Brussels, creating disruption among NATO allies. Live reports from Washington, D.C., by Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin, underscore the persistent U.S. military presence in the Middle East. Tensions are evident in the clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, alongside the vital role of the Strait of Hormuz in the ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations. USCENTCOM confirmed that 55 merchant ships transporting over 17 million barrels of oil safely navigated the strait.

The commanding general of U.S. Army forces in Europe and Africa, Gen. Christopher Donahue, is stepping down after approximately 18 months in this esteemed position. Fox News has corroborated this transition, indicating a forthcoming change. Donahue, who also directs NATO’s Allied Land Command, will officially resign on July 2, according to an Army statement. This decision follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s request, aimed at reducing the number of generals and increasing GI recruitment. Donahue is one of several military leaders exiting or retiring early under Hegseth’s administration.

After July 2, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie will assume Donahue’s responsibilities, as confirmed by the Army. Donahue is notably recognized as the last U.S. troop to depart Afghanistan in August 2021, marking the conclusion of America’s two-decade conflict post-Sept. 11 attacks. His departure aboard a C-17 cargo plane was captured in an iconic photo taken through night vision goggles. During that period, he commanded the 82nd Airborne Division, overseeing security at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the tumultuous withdrawal.

Although the Marines managed security at the Abbey Gate of the airport during the ISIS-K suicide bombing that claimed the lives of 13 U.S. service members and around 170 Afghan civilians, Donahue’s management of the evacuation garnered bipartisan acclaim. This operation facilitated the airlifting of approximately 124,000 Afghan citizens from the nation, despite critiques labeling the broader withdrawal as hurried and disorganized.

President Donald Trump consistently criticized former President Joe Biden regarding this matter. In May, Hegseth initiated a fresh inquiry into the withdrawal, supplementing prior investigations by the Pentagon, U.S. Central Command, the State Department, and Congress. Donahue, a West Point graduate and seasoned special operations commander, led Delta Force units in Iraq and Afghanistan. From July 2020 to March 2022, he commanded the 82nd Airborne Division before Biden appointed him to his current role in December 2024. His coordination of military support to Ukraine post-Russian invasion in February 2022 has distinguished Donahue as the U.S. Army’s foremost authority on drone warfare.

Within the Army, Donahue is acknowledged as a highly experienced combatant and projected to potentially ascend to chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as noted by the Associated Press. Amid discussions about downgrading U.S. Army Europe and Africa from a four-star to a three-star command, Donahue’s exit coincides with these deliberations, according to sources cited by Fox News. This downgrade would follow Hegseth’s recent communication with NATO allies indicating a forthcoming six-month audit of American forces stationed in Europe.

Hegseth expressed to NATO officials in Brussels the audit’s intent to ascertain swift and irreversible progress towards European leadership in self-defense. “It’s a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colors,” he stated. The Pentagon and the Army have yet to issue remarks about Donahue’s departure, initially reported by The Atlantic. Donahue requires a presidential waiver to secure his four-star retirement benefits, having yet to meet the three-year tenure at this rank.

Fox News National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin and other contributors, including The Associated Press, provided insights for this report. James Cirrone, a member of Fox News Digital’s Breaking/Trending News team, welcomes story tips at [email protected].