Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, the Army general who heads the District of Columbia National Guard, will be out of a job immediately after Donald Trump takes office

The U.S. Army general who heads the District of Columbia National Guard has been ordered to step down immediately after President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz will be out of a job at 12.01 pm on January 20 during Trump's inauguration, according to a guard spokesman.

The 65-year-old general has spent months helping to plan the inauguration in Washington given is it is a national security event.

At the time Schwartz steps down, he will be in the midst of commanding thousands of troops who are providing support for the inauguration.

'The timing is extremely unusual,' Schwartz told The Washington Post. 'My troops will be on the street. I'll see them off but I won't be able to welcome them back to the armory.'

He added that he would never plan to leave a mission in the middle of a battle.

Schwartz said the order to step down came from the Pentagon in an email. It is unclear who will succeed Schwartz.

Schwartz (left), who has been head of the National Guard since he was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2008, will step down at 12.01 pm on January 20 during Trump's inauguration

The Army general will step down immediately after Donald Trump takes office on January 20

Unlike the commanders of state-level National Guard units, the head of the District of Columbia's Guard reports directly to the president.

Schwartz has been in control of the National Guard since he was appointed by President George W. Bush in 2008.

It is customary for presidential appointees to submit a letter of resignation when a new administration is elected.

Schwartz had offered his resignation to President Obama twice before but it was rejected both times.

Trump made the decision to accept the general's resignation, which will be effective from the minute the president-elect takes office.

Schwartz will work right up until the moment Trump takes office.