Top US Army Commander in Europe Resigns in Hegseth Overhaul
Gen. Christopher “C.D.” Donahue, the commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) and the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan in 2021, is unexpectedly stepping down after just 18 months in the role, the Army confirmed Wednesday. His departure marks the latest and most significant exit yet in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s sweeping overhaul of the Pentagon’s senior leadership.
A Rising Star’s Abrupt Exit
Donahue will relinquish command on July 2, 2026, according to an Army statement. His deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will assume the duties of commanding general. The Army offered no official reason for the leadership change beyond thanking Donahue for his service.
Donahue submitted his retirement papers at Hegseth’s request, according to multiple sources. CBS News reported that Donahue “had earned the ire” of Hegseth and that the two men met only once in person, in Powidz, Poland, in February 2025.
Donahue was widely regarded as one of the Army’s most talented and combat-tested officers. A West Point graduate and former Delta Force commander, he led the 82nd Airborne Division during the chaotic 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan, where he oversaw security at Hamid Karzai International Airport. An iconic night-vision photograph of him boarding the final C-17 cargo plane out of Kabul became a defining image of the war’s end.
The Hegseth Purge
Donahue’s departure is the latest in a series of senior military leadership exits under Hegseth, who has removed more than two dozen top officers since taking office in January 2025. The defense secretary has pursued an aggressive restructuring under the banner of “less generals, more GIs,” ordering at least a 20% reduction in four-star generals and admirals.
Previous high-profile departures include Gen. C.Q. Brown, who was ousted as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in February 2025; Adm. Lisa Franchetti, former Chief of Naval Operations; and Gen. Randy George, who was forced to retire as Army Chief of Staff in April 2026. The Military Times confirmed that the Army did not provide a reason for the abrupt leadership change.
Unlike some other ousted leaders, Donahue was respected across the political spectrum. His leadership of the Afghanistan evacuation — which airlifted roughly 124,000 Afghan citizens — drew bipartisan praise, even as the broader withdrawal strategy was widely criticized. Former Special Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk told CBS News that Donahue is “among the most consequential commanders of his generation.”
Command Restructuring and NATO Implications
Donahue’s exit coincides with discussions inside the Army to downgrade USAREUR-AF from a four-star to a three-star command, according to sources who spoke to Fox News. This potential restructuring comes as Hegseth pressures NATO allies to take greater responsibility for European defense.
On June 18, Hegseth delivered a blistering speech in Brussels announcing a six-month review of U.S. forces in Europe. “This will be a real review,” Hegseth told NATO officials, as Fox News reported. “It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe. It’s a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colors.”
The NBC News report on Donahue’s departure noted that the command downgrade discussions come amid Hegseth’s ongoing criticism of European allies and his push for a reduced U.S. military footprint on the continent.
Donahue’s Legacy
As a top commander in Europe, Donahue played a pivotal role in coordinating military aid to Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion. Officials told Fox News that his involvement in that war made him the U.S. Army’s preeminent expert on drone warfare. He also served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, climbing through the ranks during two decades of counterterrorism operations.
Retired Army Gen. Tony Thomas, former commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, described Donahue as a “generational leader. One of the best ever,” in comments to CBS News.
A key unresolved question is whether Donahue will receive a presidential waiver to retire with four-star benefits. Because he was promoted to four-star rank in December 2024, he has not held the rank for the requisite three years. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine is reportedly leading an effort to obtain this waiver.
What’s Next
Donahue’s departure signals that no senior officer — regardless of combat record or bipartisan reputation — is immune from Hegseth’s overhaul. The Atlantic, which first reported the story, characterized the departure as part of Hegseth’s purge of those involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal, no matter how well they performed there.
As the six-month review of U.S. forces in Europe unfolds and discussions about command consolidation continue, Donahue’s exit may be only the beginning of a broader reshaping of how the U.S. military operates in Europe — and who leads it.