Reports emerged in December that the Pentagon planned to shuffle various commands as part of an organizational restructuring. According to The Independent, this included a plan to place U.S. Central Command, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Africa Command under a new umbrella organization, U.S. International Command. However, NOTUS reported this week that the move would effectively downgrade the U.S. Army Europe and Africa command and replace its leader, General Chris Donahue. The move is part of an overhaul of the U.S. footprint in Europe—a move that has escalated tensions between the Trump administration and NATO after the U.S. accused European allies of not doing enough to help re-open the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing war with Iran. Hegseth has carried out a significant shake-up of military command since taking over at the Pentagon, ousting a dozen senior military officers as of last month. Some Republican lawmakers have increasingly spoken out about the changes taking place under Hegseth's tenure, adding rare intraparty friction to an administration already facing pressure from many quarters.

Tillis Says Hegseth's Decisions Are Not 'Good Judgment'

Tillis, who is retiring after his tenure in the Senate ends in January 2027, posted a lengthy statement on X, warning that Hegseth continues to "disrespect our greatest allies and some of our best military professionals with impulsive decisions not grounded in reality or good judgment." "If the rumors are true that Hegseth is trying to sideline General Chris Donahue, one of our nation’s finest warfighters, by downgrading U.S. Army Europe-Africa to a 3-star command, he is taking another step down a dangerous path," Tillis wrote, calling it "a step that is not in the best interests of our nation or our servicemembers." "Hegseth would do well to surround himself with more patriots like General Donahue and to get his henchmen, who are not qualified to carry Donahue's bag, out of the Pentagon," the senator added. "Keep your word, Mr. Secretary: choose meritocracy over your mediocre yes-men." Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon by email on Saturday afternoon for comment.

Who Is General Chris Donahue?

General Christopher Donahue is a senior U.S. Army officer who has held a series of high‑level command roles and is most widely known for his role in the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He gained public prominence for being the last U.S. service member to leave Afghanistan, boarding the final military aircraft on August 30, 2021, as American forces ended their 20‑year presence in the country. His achievements include:

• Commanding the 82nd Airborne Division: Leading troops in the final phase of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
• Securing Kabul’s Airport: Overseeing forces tasked with evacuating U.S. personnel and Afghan civilians.
• Leading Troops in Eastern Europe: Managing deployments amid rising regional tensions, highlighting his vital role in broader NATO-related operations.

Tillis named Donahue as a military officer who has "dedicated his entire career to upholding the high standards and warrior ethos that Hegseth claims he is restoring to our ranks." "[Donahue] deployed over 20 times in support of Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Inherent Resolve, Atlantic Resolve, Freedom’s Sentinel, European Assure, Deter and Reinforce, and in support of the Sudan crisis," Tillis wrote.

Hegseth's Overhaul of Military Command

According to public reports and Pentagon confirmations since the start of the second Trump administration, Hegseth has removed several high-profile military commanders from their posts, including:

• General Charles “CQ” Brown Jr.—Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
• General Randy George—Army Chief of Staff
• Admiral Lisa Franchetti—Chief of Naval Operations
• General James “Jim” Slife—Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force
• General David Hodne—Head of Army Training and Doctrine Command
• Major General William Green Jr.—Army Chief of Chaplains
• Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse—Director, Defense Intelligence Agency
• Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore—Chief of the Navy Reserve
• Rear Adm. Milton Sands—Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command