WASHINGTON — Gen. Christopher Donahue, the Army’s top general in Europe, will step down from his role come next week after serving less than two years in the position, marking the latest senior officer to leave the military under Defense 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 spokesperson Cynthia Smith told Breaking Defense in a statement today, adding that Donahue’s deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will take up Donahue’s duties.
“The Army thanks Gen. Donahue for his leadership of U.S. Army Europe and Africa,” the spokesperson continued.
The service did not provide a reason for Donahue’s surprise departure, but media outlets reported that the former Delta Force commander had fallen out of favor with Hegseth. The defense secretary has also sought to greatly curtail the number of senior officers throughout the military. The Atlantic was the first to report on the news of Donahue’s upcoming departure.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the armed services and combatant commands are set to send the Joint Chiefs of Staff recommendations on how to comply with Hegseth’s broader drive to cut officer billets next week. At that time, Hegseth reportedly will make final decisions on which billets will be downgraded. The removal of Donahue as a four-star leader of US Army Europe and Africa suggests that command could be among those downgraded.
A DoD spokesperson referred all questions about Donahue and a larger review of general officers and flag officers to the Army. The Army, in turn, referred questions back to the larger department.
Donahue graduated from West Point in 1992. He served as a Delta Force commander and later commanded the 82nd Airborne Division, with the latter assignment equipping him to lead security for the 2021 Kabul evacuation. In his current position, he helped support NATO’s Eastern Flank against Russian aggression and oversaw programs aimed at modernizing the US’ and Europe’s drone and counter-drone capabilities, through exercises like Project Flytrap.
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According to the Atlantic, prior to the announcement this week there were theories that Donahue was to eventually become the Army’s chief of staff or even Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.