Summary
The Pentagon has prematurely removed Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza from his command of the US 5th Army Corps, approximately two months before his scheduled handover. The 5th Army Corps plays a crucial role in coordinating US ground forces in Europe, securing NATO’s eastern flank, and facilitating military assistance to Ukraine.
While the reasons for the early dismissal remain undisclosed, it occurs amid broader sweeping personnel changes by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has recently dismissed over two dozen senior officers and initiated a review to reduce US troop levels in Europe.
Brig. Gen. John B. Mountford is currently serving as acting commander until Maj. Gen. Thomas Feltey assumes the role in October.
The Pentagon has prematurely relieved the commander of the US 5th Army Corps, who coordinated American military operations in Europe and logistical support for Ukraine, ABC News reported on Friday, Aug. 7.
Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza was removed from his post in recent days, approximately two months before his scheduled departure.
The reasons for his early dismissal remain undisclosed. His designated successor, Maj. Gen. Thomas Feltey, has already been confirmed by the US Senate and was scheduled to assume command in October.
Costanza had led the 5th Army Corps since April 2024. Brig. Gen. John B. Mountford, previously the deputy commanding general for readiness, is currently serving as acting commander.
The 5th Army Corps is responsible for commanding US ground forces in Europe. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the corps has played a central role in coordinating American military assistance to Kyiv and maintaining the US troop presence on NATO’s eastern flank, with forward headquarters located in Poland.
Costanza’s removal occurs amid sweeping personnel changes within the US military hierarchy. Since Pete Hegseth assumed the role of defense secretary, more than two dozen high-ranking officers have been dismissed or suspended, often without public explanation.
However, an unnamed source familiar with the matter told ABC News that Costanza’s dismissal was not politically motivated or connected to Hegseth’s broader restructuring of the military leadership.
The leadership change coincides with a shift in US military posture in Europe under the Trump administration. In June, Hegseth announced that Washington was reviewing and reducing American troop levels on the continent, criticizing NATO allies for failing to take adequate responsibility for their own security.
Despite the proposed troop drawdowns and earlier diplomatic friction – including a temporary halt to military aid and intelligence sharing in March 2025 following a tense meeting between US President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky – US-Ukrainian military cooperation has recently stabilized.
According to US lawmakers and analysts, renewed intelligence sharing throughout 2026 has enhanced Ukraine’s ability to conduct effective long-range precision strikes against Russian military and energy infrastructure.
