Hegseth’s Purge Leaves the Army Rudderless

newsAug 25, 202625867

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed a string of senior Army officers, leaving the Army without a chief of staff after Hegseth fired Gen. Randy George in April, the New York Times reports. The Times says Hegseth has forced out at least three senior officers who had been viewed as potential successors to the top job. The leadership vacuum comes as the Army is trying to adapt to a new battlefield dominated by cheap, deadly drones and missiles. Critics quoted in coverage say the firings weaken the service at a risky moment for U.S. forces engaged around Iran and supporting Ukraine. Reports also say President Trump privately apologized to Sen. Joni Ernst after the firing of Gen. George, suggesting tension between the White House and Hegseth over the removals. There are no signs Hegseth is close to naming a new chief of staff, leaving command continuity unresolved.

Matthew Gertz

@mattgertz.bsky.social

I don't think it's a good idea to let the wildly unqualified former host of Fox & Friends' weekend edition cull the military's leadership and insert cronies. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/u...

34016h ago

DreadPikathulhu6

Every Republican is responsible for the generational loss of expertise in the military.

RobinK2

You may have a point there. Also, here is a gift link (the NYT will let one share unlimited gift articles now) for those who need it.

Grant Olsen1

Canada be like: come at me bro

SmashedNSinking1

He wasn't even qualified to host the weekday fox & friends

Rudely Van Gelder1

> After deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr. Hegseth was forced to leave the National Guard for tattoos that were deemed extremist. < Yet another one of Trump's revenge / retribution hires. "Hey Pete - want some payback? Here's all you gotta do..."

VoteVets

@votevets.org

The U.S. Army has a leadership problem thanks to Pete Hegseth. We haven't had a chief of staff since April, and Hegseth has forced out at least a half-dozen of the Army's most combat-hardened senior officers. Our soldiers deserve strong leaders. Right now, Hegseth is taking them away.

15015h ago

cosmos2.bsky.social2

Mr Hegseth is uniquely UNQUALIFIED for the position he occupies. His performance is subpar

Roland Gerritsen van der Hoop1

He is such a weak man, like Trump. Unable to deal with other, often better opinions. Unable to admit when they are wrong. Unable to lead by example. Unable to adapt, adopt, and improve. He should be given the opportunity to spend more time with his liquor cabinet.

Teleport Me Off This Rock🍀☮🤘💖🐈‍⬛🐈86471

He's taking out all the people who'll refuse to obey his illegal orders, when the coup takes place. He knows what he's doing.

Quoting this

Witty Librarian of City Of Heroes2

everything Eisenhower built up over decades, Hegseth's torn down in two years. /rage

Raider

@iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social

Pete Hegseth is a "disgrace" and a "clear and present danger" to our country and our servicemen and women who are fighting Trump's war. Ret. Major General Randy Manner

9013h ago

Only A Human2

He is a war criminal.

Greg Jaffe

@gregjaffe.bsky.social

A series of firings and feuds, initiated by Sec. Hegseth, has left the Army rudderless at a dangerous moment for U.S. troops in Iran and a key moment in the war in Ukraine. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/u...

7018h ago

Chad7

It's insane that Congress just stands by and watches this all happen.

VoteLikeYourLifeDependsOnIt1

Just what line needs to be crossed before the adults step in and stop the incompetence of this administration?

Green Hombre1

I’d rather have a Defense Secretary filled with books, not T hormone injections.

Quoting this

Kori Schake38

Reading Fehrenbach’s This Kind of War, having combat tested leaders saved the Army during the initial months of the Korean War. That’s what Hegseth’s firings are destroying.

Nick Kristof14

Important piece about DoD dysfunction under Sec Hegseth.

Dan Nexon13

These posts prompted by the news story referenced 👇

Stephanie Lamy3

They waged war on the “woke” armed forces, and now they are inert. <slow clap>

Otto von Biz Markie2

are we more lethal yet

Scott Horton

@robertscotthorton.bsky.social

This is the essence of the Hegseth Pentagon: obsession with petty personality conflicts; complete inattention to enormous policy and logistics issues that Hegseth doesn't understand and can't really discuss. An O4 riffed for alcoholism as SecDef: just what you would expect.

3613h ago

Scott Horton12

“A series of firings and feuds initiated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has left the Army essentially rudderless as it struggles to deal with the threat posed by cheap, deadly drones and missiles that have pounded U.S. bases in the Middle East”

Vote To 86 47

@ex-rino.bsky.social

Hegseth’s Purge of Top Generals Leaves the Army Rudderless A series of firings and feuds initiated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has left the Army essentially rudderless as it struggles to deal with the threat posed by cheap, deadly drones and missiles www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/u...

2115h ago

tomwellborn3rd

@wellborn.net

Trump privately apologized to Sen. Joni Ernst for Hegseth firing Gen. Randy George in a 15-second phone call with no explanation. "Tell the general I'm sorry." So either the Defense Secretary is purging four-stars without his boss's blessing, or the president is lying to a senator. Pick one.

1514h ago

First Name-Last Name1

Both picks are correct. (Quantum simultaneity)

T.J. Stiles

@tj-stiles.bsky.social

Hegseth should be impeached and removed and every senator who voted to confirm him should apologize. He’s an incompetent, ideological, partisan alcoholic stewing in petty resentments and insecurity—just a former part-time junior officer who couldn’t make the grade. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/u...

1913h ago

JeffTrnka

@jefftrnka.bsky.social

Pete Hegseth gave a speech that left no one in doubt for how depraved and vile he is as a human being. Jesse Dollemore breaks it down. youtu.be/Lr4Cjr_UBMg?...

913h ago

whet moser

@whetmoser.com

"The Army has not had a chief of staff, the service’s top officer, since Mr. Hegseth fired Gen. Randy George without explanation in April.... Hegseth has forced out at least three senior officers who had been viewed as potential successors" www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/u...

1317h ago

Quoting this

Andy Hemming3

The ex senior military WhatsApp group must be amazing…

Lena2

you know, i'd do it for free if they let me roast hegseth for like 15 minutes a day best offer

David Darmofal

@daviddarmofal.bsky.social

Hegseth’s Purge of Top Generals Leaves the Army Rudderless The leadership vacuum comes as the Army is trying to adapt to a new kind of war dominated by deadly drones.

917h ago

The Desert Veteran

@jkz12769.bsky.social

Kegbreath made a disgusting speech yesterday which basically stated that our military has to be on a war footing. He said no tranny's, no gender base DEI. HE wants male testosterone fuel warriors. He wants to get rid of the lawyers & beaucrats. So he wants a lawless military youtu.be/Lr4Cjr_UBMg?...

1311h ago

dbnewtondoors.bsky.social

@dbnewtondoors.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/u... Why is trump allowing Hegseth to dismantle the senior leadership of the US Army because that is what he is doing - a major! Hegseth has no idea what he is doing, who is influencing him? Russia? .

1315h ago