Hegseth Removes Army Chief in Latest Purge of Military’s Top Ranks

by Marcus Weisgerber and Michael R. Gordon, Wall Street Journal, April 3, 2026 - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ousted the Army’s top general Thursday, the latest top military leader removed in a Pentagon that has seen a purge of its top ranks under the Trump administration.

Gen. Randy George’s departure was announced by the Pentagon, which provided no reason for his removal. The Army chief of staff normally serves four years, and George, who gave no indication he had been preparing to retire, assumed his post in September 2023.

A defense official confirmed that Hegseth asked George to retire early. ... Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, the former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, Adm. Linda Fagan, commandant of the Coast Guard, and Gen. Timothy Haugh, commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency, were also removed from their positions under the Trump administration.