Senator Blocks General’s Promotion Amid Afghanistan Withdrawal Controversy

A Republican senator has put a hold on the promotion of a U.S. Army general involved in the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. According to sources familiar with the situation, Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin blocked the proposed elevation of Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue to a four-star rank. Donahue’s nomination was part of a package of more than 900 military promotions submitted to the Senate.

The delay aligns with President-elect Donald Trump‘s suggestions of dismissing senior military officials connected to the Afghan exit. As reported by NBC News, Trump’s transition team has been reviewing current and former military officers involved in the withdrawal, indicating a possible re-evaluation of military leadership.

Donahue, who currently commands the XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, was notably the last American soldier to leave Afghanistan, boarding a military aircraft under the cover of darkness—a moment widely circulated as a symbolic end to America’s two-decade engagement in the region. During the withdrawal, which led to the deaths of several U.S. service members and dozens of Afghans, Donahue commanded U.S. forces in Kabul following the Taliban‘s swift takeover.

Retired Gen. Tony Thomas publicly criticized the decision, characterizing it as a misuse of military personnel for political purposes. Heather Nauert, a former State Department employee under Trump, expressed her disagreement with Mullin’s actions in a social media post, questioning the reasoning behind penalizing military personnel due to the complicated Afghanistan exit.

CBS News reported that efforts are underway to convince Congress to proceed with Donahue’s promotion, although Mullin’s office has refrained from commenting on the matter. Furthermore, the possibility of a politically motivated delay looms as Congress transitions to a Republican majority in 2025, raising questions about potential influences and future military promotions.

The Trump administration initially brokered an agreement with the Taliban in February 2020 to withdraw U.S. forces, with the final execution of the plan overseen by the Biden administration amid unforeseen challenges and criticisms. Internal investigations have highlighted significant underestimations in Taliban’s advance, as well as various logistical and communication failures during the operation.