Commanding general of the US Army in European and African theater is unexpectedly stepping down

The U.S. Army's commanding general of forces in Europe and Africa is stepping down after roughly a year and a half at the coveted post, Fox News has confirmed.

Gen. Christopher Donahue — who also leads NATO's Allied Land Command — will resign on July 2, according to a statement from the Army.

Donahue submitted his retirement papers at the request of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has sought to shrink the number of generals and prioritize adding new GI's. He is the latest military leader of more than two dozen to leave or retire early under Hegseth's leadership.

Donahue's deputy, Maj. Gen. Christopher Norrie, will take over his duties after July 2, according to the Army.

ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF ORDERED TO RETIRE IMMEDIATELY AS HEGSETH CONTINUES PENTAGON SHAKEUP

Donahue is best known as the last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan in August 2021, marking the end of America's nearly 20-year war launched after the Sept. 11 attacks. The moment he stepped onto a C-17 cargo plane was captured in an iconic photo taken through night vision goggles.

At the time, he was the commander of the 82nd Airborne Division and was brought in to oversee security at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the chaotic withdrawal.

The Marines, not Donahue's forces, were in charge of the securing Abbey Gate at the airport, which was attacked by a member of ISIS-K in a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and roughly 170 Afghan civilians.

Donahue's leadership of the evacuation, which saw roughly 124,000 Afghan citizens airlifted from the country, drew praise from both Democrats and Republicans, even though the broader withdrawal strategy was criticized as rushed and haphazard.

HEGSETH ORDERS PENTAGON TO LAUNCH COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW INTO 'CATASTROPHIC' 2021 AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL

President Donald Trump attacked former President Joe Biden over this for years, and last May, Hegseth ordered a new investigation of the withdrawal following earlier probes of the operation by the Pentagon, U.S. Central Command, the State Department and Congress.

A West Point graduate and a career special operations commander, Donahue led the Delta Force units in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was then picked to be the 82nd Airborne Division commander from July 2020 to March 2022, before being appointed to his current position by Biden in December 2024.

As a top commander in Europe, Donahue coordinated military aid to Ukraine after the Russian invasion in February 2022. Officials told Fox News that his involvement in that war has made him the US Army's preeminent expert on drone warfare.

Within the Army, Donahue was seen as one of the most seasoned soldiers with more combat experience than most. He was also thought to be someone who had the potential to become chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to The Associated Press.

Donahue's departure coincides with discussions inside the Army to downgrade U.S. Army Europe and Africa from a four-star to a three-star command, according to sources who spoke to Fox News.

This would come after Hegseth told NATO allies last week he would be leading a six-month review of American forces in Europe.

"This will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe," he told NATO officials in Brussels. "It’s a review that some countries will fail and others will pass with flying colors."

The Pentagon and the Army did not immediately comment on Donahue's exit, which was first reported by The Atlantic.

Donahue will need a presidential waiver to retain his four-star retirement benefits, since he hasn't had his fourth star for the requisite three years.

Fox News National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.