Army Europe Commander Donahue Steps Down as Headquarters Is Downgraded

Gen. Christopher Donahue relinquished command of U.S. Army Europe and Africa at a July 2, 2026 ceremony at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany, and the command was officially downgraded from a four-star to a three-star headquarters. Donahue, a former 82nd Airborne Division commander widely viewed inside the Army as a potential future chief of staff, had submitted retirement paperwork the previous week; his deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, became acting commander. The downgrade is part of a broader effort by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to reduce the number of four-star billets, following a similar 2025 reduction of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Africa.

The departure drew bipartisan criticism, with lawmakers from both parties saying Donahue — praised at his farewell for supporting Ukraine and adapting the force to drone and AI warfare — was effectively forced into early retirement. The episode adds to concern over the pace and rationale of Hegseth's reshaping of the military's senior ranks, which has already included the removal of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, and over reducing the U.S. Army's four-star presence in Europe amid continued tension with Russia.

The Defense Department has not publicly explained the circumstances of Donahue's retirement, and the matter was not mentioned at the ceremony. Norrie is serving as acting commander of the downgraded three-star headquarters.