According to reports from ABC News and The Hill, the U.S. Army confirmed on March 7 that a senior Pentagon commander responsible for European military operations, Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza of the V Corps, has been relieved of his command. The move comes nearly two months before his scheduled term was set to conclude. ABC described the personnel change as “abrupt.”
Costanza (left) in a file photo, source: US media
The specific reasons behind Costanza’s removal remain unknown, according to US media reports. While the timing coincides with a broader shakeup among senior military leadership, sources familiar with the matter say this particular decision is unrelated to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s overall restructuring of the military’s top brass, nor does it involve any political factors.
Since January 2025, the Trump administration has dismissed multiple senior military officers and officials. After taking office as Secretary of Defense, Hegseth pushed forward a massive overhaul of the Defense Department, calling for at least a 20% reduction in active-duty four-star generals. Among those removed or forced into early retirement are several high-ranking officials, including then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Brown, National Security Agency Director and Cyber Command Chief Timothy Haugh, Chief of Naval Operations Lisa Franchetti, and Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan.
The V Corps oversees U.S. Army forces stationed in Europe and coordinates military operations across the continent. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, its role has become increasingly critical, particularly in managing U.S. troop deployments along NATO’s front lines. ABC noted that the Pentagon has scaled back U.S. military presence in Europe this year, with one of the most notable moves being the abrupt cancellation in May of a plan to deploy over 4,000 troops to Poland. CNN reported that Hegseth’s decision is linked to the administration’s pressure on European nations to boost their defense spending.
