Gen. Christopher Donahue, the commanding general of the U.S. Army’s Europe and African operations, will relinquish his command after only 18 months on July 2. The Associated Press reported that his departure comes as sources indicate a downgrading of the U.S. Army Europe and Africa from a four to a three star command. 

Donahue commanded Delta Force units in Iraq and Afghanistan and then led the 82nd Airborne division from July 2020 to March 2022, during which he became the last soldier to depart Afghanistan during the Biden Administration’s 2021 withdrawal. 

Subscribe Today

Get daily emails in your inbox

Email Address:

Donahue’s departure is the latest in a series of brass shakeups under Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. 

Under Hegseth’s leadership, the Department of War has undertaken a policy of “less [sic] generals, more GIs.” This has encompassed the removal of other top officials, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in April 2026 and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles “C.Q.” Brown in February 2025. 

Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, Donahue’s deputy commanding general, will perform his duties in the meantime.