Overview
- The Army confirmed late Tuesday that Gen. Christopher Donahue will relinquish command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa on July 2, 2026, and that Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie will perform the duties in the interim.
- The service gave no public reason for Donahue’s abrupt departure after 18 months in the job, and multiple outlets reported he fell out of favor with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- Reporting that has been corroborated by several outlets says the Pentagon is weighing downgrading the USAREUR-AF post from a four-star to a three-star billet, which would force four-star incumbents to retire if no other slot is available.
- Lieutenant Gen. Kevin Admiral is reported as the expected nominee to fill the slot if it remains a four-star position, but no nomination has been announced and the Army has not confirmed that report.
- Donahue is a West Point graduate and a career special-operations and combat commander who became widely known as the last U.S. soldier to leave Kabul in 2021, and his exit adds to a string of senior departures that have raised concerns about loss of expertise, alliance posture in Europe and Africa, and calls for greater congressional oversight.