Four-star general and former Delta Force commander set to retire

WASHINGTON (CBS, KYMA) - Gen. Christopher Donahue, one of the most decorated, combat-tested and respected members of the U.S. Armed Forces, is retiring, forced out by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

At just 56, Gen. Donahue, a former Delta Force commander, had been expected to serve for years to come.

However, he's now one of more than a dozen senior officers recently shown the door.

Speaking with CBS Evening News anchor Tony Dokoupil, Face the Nation moderator and CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan says Donahue's retirement is the "most remarkable purge to date because of how exemplary" his career has been.

According to a U.S. official, Secretary Hegseth told Donahue he should retire by the end of the summer, and said Donahue has received his retirement papers.

Brennan said this comes amid behind the scenes efforts by some lawmakers on Capitol Hill to salvage his career.

While the Pentagon says Donahue's retirement is part of a push to shrink the number of generals and admirals, multiple sources told CBS News it appears to be "an effort to squeeze out officers in favor of political loyalists," with Brennan saying it's significant "because the military is supposed to be apolitical."

When asked if there was any friction between Hegseth and Donahue, Brennan said in part, "On the face of it, Donahue would appear to be the kind of warrior leader Hegseth says he wants. U.S. officials deny any personal clash or conflict, and say the two men only ever met once."

According to an Army spokesperson, Donahue is set to relinquish command on July 2. To watch more of Brennan's report on Donahue's retirement, click here.