This comes at a time when the country is in the middle of a war it launched alongside Israel on Iran. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s decision to fire or force out several senior Army officers has left the country’s Army without a permanent chief of staff.
The Army has not had a chief of staff, its top officer, since Hegseth fired Gen Randy George in April.
Officials said there is no sign that Hegseth is close to naming his replacement, according to The NY Times .
Driscoll was earlier seen as a possible replacement for Hegseth if he left his post or lost President Donald Trump’s support, according to The Wall Street Journal . Army Secretary Daniel P Driscoll is also expected to leave the Trump administration in the coming months. Hegseth initially accused George of working with lawmakers who had blocked LaNeve’s nomination. LaNeve was eventually sworn in as vice chief in February. LaNeve is now serving as both vice chief of staff and acting Army chief of staff. Both are four-star positions.
Less than two months later, Hegseth fired George during a phone call that lasted about 15 seconds, according to defence officials.
Congressional officials said that accusation was false. “Every shortcut in training and lapse in discipline will be paid for in blood,” Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa, a former Iowa National Guard officer, warned, according to the NY Times. Representative Pat Ryan, a New York Democrat and 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,” he said.
