The US Air Force announced on Monday that its commander, General David Allvin, will retire in the middle of his four-year term. The Air Force stated that General Allvin “has announced his intention to step down on or around November 1.” He will continue to serve as Chief of Staff until a successor is confirmed, allowing for a smooth leadership transition. The reason for this early retirement is not yet clear. Since President Donald Trump returned to power in January, many senior US military leaders have been pushed to resign. In February, Trump dismissed Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Charles “CQ” Brown without explanation. The services of the Navy and Coast Guard commanders, the head of the National Security Agency, the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force, a NATO admiral, and three senior military legal officers were also terminated.

General Allvin has led the Air Force since November 2023 in a term that was supposed to last four years. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Trump, a Republican, appoints military officials he trusts, but Democrats fear these choices could politicize the military.