Senate Confirms Promotion of General Who Oversaw Afghanistan Withdrawal

Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, the last U.S. soldier to leave Kabul, was promoted to four-star general after a GOP senator lifted a procedural hold.

Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who commanded the 82nd Airborne Division during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, has been promoted to lead U.S. Army Europe-Africa.
The Senate confirmed Donahue's promotion by unanimous consent after Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., dropped his hold on the nomination.
Mullin had previously blocked the promotion, citing dissatisfaction with accountability for the chaotic withdrawal that resulted in 13 U.S. service members' deaths in a suicide bombing.
The Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal has faced criticism, with President-elect Donald Trump vowing to investigate and potentially court-martial officials involved.
Donahue's promotion follows widespread support from retired military officials and former Trump administration figures, who argued the responsibility lay with political leadership rather than military commanders.