POLITICS DECEMBER 7, 2018 / 2:05 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO

Trump seen picking Army head Milley as next chairman of Joint Chiefs

Phil Stewart, Steve Holland
3 MIN READ

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to name the Army’s top general, Mark Milley, as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday, in a decision that appears to be coming months earlier than expected.

Trump hinted earlier on Friday that he would be announcing new military leadership on Saturday when he attends the Army-Navy football game.

Milley would succeed Marine General Joseph Dunford, who would normally stay in office as chairman until a slated Oct. 1, 2019 handover date. It was unclear whether that date would be moved earlier as a result of an early announcement about his successor, if confirmed.

One U.S. official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity because the matter was not yet public, suggested that keeping Dunford in the job until Oct. 1 would be difficult for both him and Milley in such a scenario.

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