‘Insane’: US defense officials stunned by Hegseth’s wartime purge of top Army brass – report

American defense officials were blindsided by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent moves to fire US Army Chief of Staff Randy George and two other top Army generals, calling the decision “insane,” according to an Axios report.

Hegseth did not give a reason for George’s departure, which comes as the US military — of which the Army is the land warfare arm — builds up its forces in the Middle East while carrying out operations against Iran.

Two officials quoted by the outlet say that George’s dismissal was due to “clashing personalities.”

According to Axios, George’s ouster “generated concern among defense officials,” as did the dismissals of General David Hodne, who leads the Army’s Transformation and Training Command, and Major General William Green, head of the Army’s Chaplain Corps.

“Its insane,” says one official of Hegseth’s decision to fire top generals during a war.

“This doesn’t feel like a very strong, self-assured decision,” says another official.

“Here is a four-star general who is actively working to get equipment and people into theater — to protect US forces — and you fire him? In the middle of a war?” a third official tells Axios, referring to former Army chief George.