Top officer in Afghanistan promoted after senator drops hold

A top Army officer who served in Afghanistan was promoted by the Senate on Monday night after Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) dropped his hold on the promotion. He had raised concerns about a lack of accountability for the 2021 U.S. withdrawal.

Lt. Gen. Christopher T. Donahue was promoted to the rank of general by unanimous voice vote in the Senate.

While in Afghanistan, Donahue was the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was photographed in an iconic image boarding a C-17 and was dubbed the last soldier to leave Afghanistan.

It’s unclear why Donahue, commander of XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Liberty since March 2022, was singled out in the batch of nominations the Senate usually proceeds. He was sent to Afghanistan in the final days of the withdrawal.

Mullin has not publicly commented on the hold, which several news outlets reported on.

But Mullin has previously raised concerns no one was held responsible for the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, which saw Afghans and Americans scrambling to leave the Kabul airport.

Amid the exit, suicide bombing at the airport killed 13 American troops and around 170 Afghans. The Taliban also quickly seized control of the country after U.S. troops left.

President-elect Trump has vowed to fire the commanders and generals responsible for the Afghanistan withdrawal.