00:02Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has now forced out the Army's top officer,
00:07ordering General Randy George to retire immediately.
00:11CBS News first reported the move, later confirmed by the Pentagon.
00:15A spokesperson says George is stepping down, effective immediately,
00:19thanking him for decades of service.
00:21George had been in the role since 2023 and was expected to stay through 2027.
00:26Instead, Hegseth pushed for a change at the top, with one official telling CBS
00:31he wants leadership aligned with his and President Trump's vision for the Army.
00:36This is the latest in a string of high-level shakeups inside the military.
00:40Hegseth has already removed or replaced more than a dozen senior officers across multiple branches.
00:46He has defended those decisions publicly,
00:49arguing allies and the military need to step up and follow a clearer mission.
00:53CNN reports the move also ties into internal friction at the Pentagon.
00:58George worked closely with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, a key Trump ally.
01:03But Hegseth viewed that relationship as a problem and at times saw Driscoll as a rival.
01:08Officials say George's past role, working under former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin
01:13in the Biden administration, also worked against him with the current leadership.
01:17The Pentagon made the announcement on social media, calling it an immediate retirement
01:22and thanking George for his service.
01:24Just days ago, George was still on the job, visiting West Point and meeting with cadets.
01:29The Academy posting photos of that visit, highlighting his guidance to future Army leaders.
01:35Now, the Army's Vice Chief, General Christopher Leneve, a close Hegseth ally,
01:40is expected to step in as Acting Chief.
01:44First of all, the Army, the Armyç´€RC everything
01:45is expected to change into place.
01:46First to take a long time�
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