Senate Approves General’s Promotion Blocked by Republican Senator
The Senate voted unanimously on Monday to approve the promotion of Army Lt. Gen. Christopher Donahue to four-star general. The promotion had been blocked by Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin, who did not provide a reason for his hold. Donahue, who oversaw troops during the U.S. withdrawal from Kabul in 2021, was the last soldier to board a U.S. military plane out of Afghanistan.
Mullin’s hold on Donahue’s promotion was lifted ahead of the Senate vote, which came after the inspector general’s report in 2022 found that decisions by both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump contributed to the troubled exit from Afghanistan. The chaotic exit was further marred by a suicide bombing at Abbey Gate leading into the Kabul airport, which killed 13 American service members.
Republicans in Congress have been critical of the withdrawal from Afghanistan and the evacuation process, holding multiple hearings on the matter. The approval of Donahue’s promotion comes as Trump has threatened to fire officials involved in the withdrawal and as his transition team explores the possibility of court-martialing those individuals.
Donahue’s promotion to oversee U.S. Army forces in Europe signifies the Senate’s support for his leadership during the tumultuous withdrawal from Afghanistan. The approval by all 100 senators marks a significant moment in the aftermath of the U.S.’s exit from Kabul.
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