Gen. Christopher Donahue, the commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa will relinquish command next week, marking the latest departure of a senior military leader during War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s tenure.
“Gen. Christopher Donahue, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe and Africa and commander of NATO’s Allied Land Command, will relinquish command on July 2, 2026,” Army spokeswoman Cynthia O. Smith said in a statement.
Smith said Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, deputy commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, will assume Donahue’s responsibilities on an interim basis.
“The Army thanks Gen. Donahue for his leadership of U.S. Army Europe and Africa,” Smith added.
The Army did not provide a reason for Donahue’s departure, which comes less than two years after he assumed command in December 2024.
CBS News, citing multiple sources, reported that he had “earned the ire” of Hegseth, though the reason was not disclosed. The outlet said the two met in person only once, in February 2025.
Donahue will also relinquish command of NATO’s Allied Land Command during a July 9 ceremony in Turkey, according to NATO officials. Until a replacement is named, British Army Lt. Gen. Jez Bennett, the deputy commander, will serve as acting commander.
A West Point graduate and former Delta Force commander, Donahue is widely known for overseeing security during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. A night-vision image showing him boarding the final U.S. military aircraft departing Kabul became one of the most recognizable photographs from the end of America’s nearly 20-year war in Afghanistan.
He later commanded the XVIII Airborne Corps and the 82nd Airborne Division before taking charge of Army operations across Europe and Africa.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Donahue was among the first senior U.S. officers deployed to Europe to assist Ukrainian forces and played a key role in advising the country’s military during the early stages of the conflict.
His departure comes amid a broader shake-up of senior military leadership under Hegseth. Since taking office, the war secretary has overseen the removal or retirement of more than a dozen senior military officials, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown and former Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti.
The move also comes as the Pentagon reviews senior officer positions across the military.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the armed services and combatant commands are expected to submit recommendations on how to comply with Hegseth’s directive to reduce the number of senior officer positions by next week.
The Command was downgraded from a 4 star to a 3 star command. By law he has to give up command and take another 4 star job or retire. His only option to stay in command is to take a reduction in rank.