Overview
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George in April, and the Army has had no confirmed chief since, leaving Gen. Christopher LaNeve to serve as acting chief while duties pile up.
- The Washington Post and other outlets report that days before George’s removal he pressed to investigate an unauthorized AH-64 flyby near Kid Rock’s Tennessee home and was told by Gen. Chris LaNeve to drop the probe at Hegseth’s direction.
- LaNeve was sworn in as vice chief and is acting as both vice chief and acting chief, but his permanent nomination has stalled on Capitol Hill because at least one Republican senator, Joni Ernst, withholds support.
- Hegseth’s personnel moves have shrunk the Army’s four‑star roster from roughly ten when he arrived to about five now, and Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll is reported likely to leave, creating multiple senior vacancies.
- Lawmakers and senior officers warn the turmoil could degrade readiness for operations against Iranian drones and missiles and for support to Ukraine, and it may take years to rebuild the pool of combat‑tested leaders.