"He's a West Point graduate, with a military education that includes time at the Naval War College to the U.S. Army War College Fellowship at Harvard University, according to his biography.

Donahue is leaving as President Trump pushes to withdraw soldiers from Europe, which has raised concerns among lawmakers, and as the White House plays hardball with NATO over defense spending.

His departure follows Hegseth's decision to ask Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George to step down in April and Navy Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield was fired within the same month."

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Obviously too competent and patriotic for this Administration.

"Hegseth has fired or pushed aside more than 20 top officers across the armed forces, including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General C.Q. Brown, who is black, and Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to serve as head of naval operations.

He's also reportedly stopped dozens of promotions across the U.S. Army, Air Force and Navy.

Donahue "had more to give to the Army," Arnold said. "He's been removed early."

Observers, former officials and current U.S. lawmakers have also raised concerns over the dismissal of the top U.S. military lawyers, fearing U.S. soldiers could end up making legally dubious or illegal decisions in operations.

Hegseth has called military lawyers "roadblocks" and vowed to "untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country."