A series of firings and leadership disputes involving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has left the U.S. Army with vacancies at several senior positions as the service faces growing demands in the Middle East and Europe.
The Army has been without a permanent chief of staff since Hegseth, who is also known as the Secretary of War, fired Gen. Randy George in April. At least three other senior officers considered potential successors to George have also been fired or forced out, according to current and former officials cited by The New York Times.
The number of four-star generals on active duty has fallen from 10 when Hegseth took office in January 2025 to five, the fewest in decades. Some vacant positions have been eliminated or filled temporarily by officers from other services, while others have remained unfilled for months.
The leadership changes come as the Army is heavily involved in operations overseas. Army air-defense units are defending U.S. forces in the Middle East against Iranian missiles and drones, while U.S. Army forces in Europe are providing intelligence and other support to Ukraine.
Senior positions remain vacant
One significant vacancy is at the Army’s Transformation and Training Command, which oversees the training and equipping of ground forces, including Patriot missile crews. Hegseth selected Gen. David M. Hodne to lead the command last summer but fired him eight months later without explanation.
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The Patriot system has become particularly important as Iran has used increasingly sophisticated ballistic missiles against U.S. bases. On July 17, an Iranian missile struck housing at an American base in Jordan, killing three U.S. soldiers and wounding more than 100, according to the Times.
The Army has also been drawing down its limited supply of Patriot interceptors.
In July, Hegseth reduced the command of Gen. Christopher T. Donahue, which oversees U.S. ground troops in Europe, from four stars to three, potentially forcing Donahue to retire. When Iran launched its war, Donahue’s command quickly deployed teams trained to defend against drones, drawing on lessons from the war in Ukraine.
The most prominent vacancy remains that of Army chief of staff.
Hegseth and George reportedly struggled to establish a working relationship. Hegseth has written about his own difficult experience with the military, saying in a 2024 book: “The military I loved, I fought for, I revered, spit me out.”
Hegseth had already pushed out Gen. James Mingus, the Army’s vice chief of staff, in October 2025. He subsequently nominated Gen. Christopher LaNeve, his senior military aide, to replace him.
LaNeve was eventually sworn in as vice chief in February, but George was dismissed less than two months later in what defense officials described as a 15-second phone call.
Disputes over the Army’s future
LaNeve is now serving as both vice chief and acting chief of staff, but his nomination to become permanent chief has not secured enough Republican support in the Senate.
Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa has opposed the nomination. According to a congressional official, Ernst believed Hegseth had assured her that George would be allowed to complete his term, which was scheduled to run until mid-2027.
After George’s dismissal, Ernst called President Donald Trump to protest. Trump reportedly told her that the decision had been Hegseth’s and said: “Tell the general I’m sorry.”
The personnel upheaval has also raised concerns about the Army’s ability to modernize while maintaining basic combat capabilities. Russia and China are developing new drones and artificial-intelligence systems, while the Army is adapting to a battlefield in which inexpensive drones and missiles can threaten troops and bases.
In a message to Army personnel last week, LaNeve said the service must learn to “master an operational environment that looks fundamentally different from the battlefields of yesterday.”
At the same time, he has emphasized a return to basic military skills, expressing concern that recent modernization efforts may have come at their expense.
“Every shortcut in training and lapse in discipline will be paid for in blood,” LaNeve warned.
Critics argue that the removal of experienced senior officers could weaken the Army at a time when it is already heavily committed overseas. Rep. Pat Ryan, a former Army intelligence officer, said: “Hollowing out the most battle-tested and most lethal, proven leaders in a time of war means troops are less safe and we’re less likely to win.”
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