{"id":45792,"date":"2025-01-29T21:55:58","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T21:55:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2025\/01\/29\/amid-tense-presidential-transition-army-chief-focused-on-warfighting\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:24:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:24:16","slug":"amid-tense-presidential-transition-army-chief-focused-on-warfighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/smr\/land-warfare\/2025\/01\/29\/amid-tense-presidential-transition-army-chief-focused-on-warfighting\/","title":{"rendered":"Amid tense presidential transition, Army chief focused on warfighting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In response to multiple audience questions about recent presidential executive orders<\/a> <\/a>involving the military, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George told a crowd of nearly 200 in late January that he remains focused on preparing the service for future conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a previously scheduled talk at the Association of the U.S. Army, the leading nonprofit support organization for the service, George spent most of his 45-minute time slot discussing changes the Army is making to its force design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But near the end of the talk, audience questions centered on President Donald Trump\u2019s various executive orders<\/a> and on recent reports of actions taken involving retired Gen. Mark Milley<\/a>, the former Army chief of staff and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump recently signed a flurry of executive orders focused on the military, one of which directs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to revise the Pentagon\u2019s policy on transgender troops, likely setting in motion a future ban on their military service. Hegseth started in the position Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other orders would roll back diversity programs, create a space-based missile defense system and reinstate troops who were booted for refusing COVID-19 vaccines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One audience member at George\u2019s talk Wednesday asked the general if he had concerns about the orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are working through all of that stuff just like we normally do,\u201d George said. \u201cAnd I think you hear from this morning, we\u2019re really focused and haven\u2019t had any difference, really focused on transforming the Army.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Col. Dave Butler, George\u2019s spokesman, responded to Army Times in an email following the event, stating that the service is enacting and implementing all of Trump\u2019s and Hegseth\u2019s policy decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are reviewing and responding to every order diligently and swiftly to ensure we meet the needs of our soldiers while effectively implementing the directives of our commander in chief,\u201d Butler wrote. \u201cCivilian control of the military is a cornerstone of our democracy. The Army will continue to move out and execute the orders given to us by the people elected to run this country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t