The Pentagon announced Thursday that the Secretary of Defense Peter Heggs Fired two other generals and the Army’s top commander without providing an explanation for the departures while the United States is fighting Iran.
The sudden firings of top U.S. Army officers David Holden and William Green Jr. have sparked widespread questions.
The decision was made at a tense moment. The conflict in the Middle East is now in its fifth week and shows no signs of slowing down.
Read more: ‘Unpredictable’: Pete Hegseth on deploying US troops as Iran war escalates
Why were senior US military officers fired?
The removals are part of a sweeping Pentagon shakeup led by Hegers, who also forced Army Chief of Staff Gen. Trump to step down. Randy George earlier in the day. Shortly after his departure was announced, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed General George’s “immediate retirement.”
He is expected to be replaced by Christopher LaNeve, who worked closely with Hegseth as a top military aide at the Pentagon.
George escaped in February 2025 when Hegseth fired another group of senior military officials in the first round of firings by the Trump administration.
Gen. Jim Slife, the No. 2 man in the Air Force, Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s highest-ranking officer, and Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr. were also dismissed by Trump as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Among those leaving was George’s deputy, Gen. James Mingus, who had served as Army vice chief of staff for less than two years.
Read more: Why Gen. Randy George was fired by Pete Hegseth: ‘Retirement’ push sparks controversy
Bigger leadership changes
Multiple reports, including from The Associated Press and Reuters, said Holdern and Green were ousted along with George as part of a larger leadership upheaval.
A little more than a week ago, Hegseth announced two major changes to the military chaplain corps. Greene, who led the Army Chaplain Corps, was also removed from his post due to changes in chaplain policy.
Hegseth expressed his desire for pastors to put God above therapeutic “self-help and self-care” in a video message last week. In recent years, the military has increasingly relied on chaplains to deal with the growing number of soldiers suffering from mental health issues.
Hodne had been overseeing training and transformation programs but that was interrupted with news of his removal.
However, again no formal reasons were provided for either dismissal.
