The U.S. Army confirmed on 7/8 that Lieutenant General Charles Costanza, commander of V Corps in Europe, was relieved of his command. The matter has been "referred to the appropriate authority for processing in accordance with army regulations."
General Costanza's removal comes nearly two months before his tour of duty in Europe was set to conclude. Brigadier General John B. Mountford, deputy commander for V Corps' readiness capabilities, will serve as acting corps commander, according to a U.S. Army spokesperson.
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Lieutenant General Charles Costanza at Camp Kosciuszko, Poland in 8/2025. Photo: US Army |
The precise reason for Costanza's removal from command remains unclear. A source stated, "He committed behavior that could result in a commander's dismissal at any rank." Separately, a former defense official mentioned that Costanza "had issues related to alcohol use." Notably, two informed sources indicated that General Costanza's dismissal was not at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, distinguishing it from other recent high-profile leadership changes.
V Corps, with headquarters at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and a forward base in Kosciuszko, Poland, is responsible for overseeing U.S. Army forces across Europe. The corps has taken on an increasingly prominent role since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine, helping coordinate U.S. support for Kyiv and managing the U.S. military presence along NATO's front lines.
Costanza's removal follows a broader shake-up within the U.S. military's senior leadership, where more than 20 senior officers have been dismissed or reassigned by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth had previously removed Army Chief of Staff General Randy George and General Chris Donahue, commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa.
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V Corps members during a training session in Zamosc, Poland in 2022. Photo: Army |
Costanza holds a master's degree in military studies from the U.S. Army War College. He previously served as deputy commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa. Prior to that, he commanded the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia.
By Huyen Le (According to Hill, ABC News)
