Gen. Christopher Donahue, one of the most recognizable Army officers from the final hours of the U.S. war in Afghanistan, is unexpectedly stepping down from his role as commander of U.S. Army forces in Europe and Africa after only 18 months in the post.
The Army confirmed that Donahue, who also serves as commander of NATO’s Allied Land Command, will relinquish command on July 2. His deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, is expected to carry out the duties in the interim.
Donahue is best known to the broader public as the last American service member to leave Afghanistan in August 2021. A night-vision image showed him boarding the final U.S. military aircraft out of Kabul, a moment that became one of the defining images of the chaotic withdrawal and the end of America’s nearly 20-year war there.
His departure now comes during a broader reshaping of senior military leadership under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Pentagon has been reviewing the number of top-ranking officers across the armed forces, with Hegseth arguing that the military should reduce the number of generals and focus more resources on rank-and-file service members.
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Donahue’s exit is drawing attention not only because of his Afghanistan role, but also because of the command he currently leads. U.S. Army Europe and Africa is central to American military coordination with NATO, support for Ukraine and deterrence efforts on the continent. The command has become especially important since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, as Washington and its allies have worked to strengthen Europe’s defenses.
According to reports, Army officials have also discussed downgrading U.S. Army Europe and Africa from a four-star command to a three-star command. If that happens, it could reflect a wider shift in how the Pentagon wants to structure U.S. military leadership in Europe at a time when the Trump administration is pressing European allies to take more responsibility for their own defense.
Donahue’s career has spanned some of the most consequential U.S. military operations of the past three decades. A West Point graduate and longtime special operations officer, he served in Iraq and Afghanistan and later commanded the 82nd Airborne Division. During the final evacuation from Kabul, he oversaw security at Hamid Karzai International Airport as U.S. troops, allied personnel and vulnerable Afghans were rushed out under dangerous conditions.
The Afghanistan withdrawal remains politically charged. Critics have blamed the Biden administration for the scenes of disorder in Kabul, while others note that the withdrawal followed a deal negotiated during Trump’s first term. Multiple government and military reviews have already examined the operation, but Hegseth has ordered another Pentagon review into the withdrawal.
Donahue’s leadership during the evacuation was widely praised across party lines, even as the broader operation remained controversial. Inside the Army, he had been viewed as a senior officer with the experience and stature to potentially rise even further, including to top service-wide leadership roles.
What remains unclear is whether Donahue’s departure is tied directly to the possible command downgrade, broader personnel changes at the Pentagon, the new review of Afghanistan, or a combination of factors. The Pentagon has not publicly offered a detailed explanation for the timing of the move.
For ordinary service members and military families, changes at the top can affect priorities, deployments and the way commands are organized. For U.S. allies, especially in Europe, the shake-up may raise questions about whether Washington’s military posture in the region is shifting at a sensitive moment for NATO.
The departure also comes as the administration pushes European governments to spend more on defense and take a larger role in protecting the continent. That message has been welcomed by some who believe Europe should carry more of the burden, but it has also created concerns about whether the United States could reduce its leadership role in NATO planning.
Donahue’s exit is therefore more than a personnel change. It is a signal moment inside a Pentagon that is being reshaped under new political leadership, while the U.S. military balances lessons from Afghanistan, commitments to NATO and rising pressure to rethink how many senior officers it needs.
Why It Matters
Donahue’s departure matters because he was not a low-profile commander. He was tied to one of the most symbolic moments of the Afghanistan war and later placed in charge of U.S. Army forces across Europe and Africa. His exit adds to questions about how far the Pentagon’s leadership overhaul will go and whether experienced commanders are being moved out as part of a broader restructuring.
The move also matters for NATO and Ukraine policy. U.S. Army Europe and Africa plays a major role in coordinating American military activity with allies. Any downgrade or leadership change could be watched closely by European governments, especially as Washington urges them to take more responsibility for regional defense.
What Comes Next
Donahue is expected to relinquish command on July 2, with Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie temporarily taking over his duties. The Pentagon may face pressure to explain whether the departure is part of a planned command restructuring or a broader review of senior military leadership.
The next major question is whether U.S. Army Europe and Africa will formally be downgraded from a four-star to a three-star command. If that happens, it could mark a significant shift in how the U.S. organizes its military presence in Europe at a time of continuing concern over Russia, NATO readiness and long-term support for Ukraine.
A post circulating on X reported that Gen. Christopher Donahue has submitted retirement papers as questions continue over the leadership change.
General Christopher T. Donahue, Commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa Has Submitted Retirement Papers. pic.twitter.com/d95aRcxNXH
— Kagan.Dunlap (@Kagan_M_Dunlap) June 24, 2026
