Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) has blocked the promotion of Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue, who oversaw the U.S. military’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. The hold reflects ongoing tensions surrounding the chaotic exit, as President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team considers court-martialing military officials involved in the pullout.
Donahue, nominated for promotion to four-star general to lead U.S. Army forces in Europe, was the last U.S. soldier to leave Afghanistan, captured in a widely circulated photograph. His nomination is part of over 900 pending before the Senate, but Mullin has frozen his advancement. Mullin’s office did not comment on the decision.
The withdrawal, marked by the fall of Kabul to the Taliban and a deadly bombing at Abbey Gate, has been a focal point for Trump. His transition team is weighing investigations into military leadership, including potential charges or a commission to examine the decision-making process.
Critics, including retired Gen. Tony Thomas and former Trump administration officials like Heather Nauert, have called Mullin’s move political and unjustified. Others, like Anthony Tata, argue Donahue should be held accountable for operational failures during the evacuation.
Donahue’s promotion faces uncertainty as the Senate nears recess and a Republican-controlled Congress prepares to take office in 2025.
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