Reggie Jackson questions Hegseth's Army purge amid Iran war
Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson criticized Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for ordering the immediate retirement of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George amid an ongoing U.S. military operation in Iran. Jackson, a former New York Yankees star and current special advisor to the team, questioned the timing of the leadership shakeup in posts on X. Hegseth directed George to retire on Thursday, according to a senior War Department official.
The official told Fox News that Hegseth called George and stated it was time for a leadership change in the Army. War Department chief spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed the move on X, noting George's retirement as the 41st Army chief of staff effective immediately and thanking him for decades of service. Reuters reported that Hegseth also ousted Gen. David Hodne, leader of the U.S. Army’s Transformation and Training Command, and Maj. Gen. William Green, head of the Army’s Chaplain Corps.
Jackson wrote on X: "What’s happening with our Sec of Defense. How do we get rid of all that experience at this time? Help me I don’t get it. Getting rid of The Chaplin (sic) leader?" He added: "What? We’ve got a war going on and we’re getting rid of most of our experience and knowledge built with uniform time." Hegseth announced changes to military "faith codes" last month as part of an overhaul of the Pentagon chaplain corps and vowed further adjustments.
George's departure leaves the Army seeking a successor during active operations in Iran.
