Pentagon to Cut 20% of General and Admiral Positions: Hegseth

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce a major restructuring of the U.S. military’s senior leadership, with the Pentagon planning to reduce the number of positions reserved for generals and admirals by 20%. The announcement is part of Hegseth’s broader effort to restructure the military’s senior ranks and reduce what the administration views as unnecessary layers of leadership. The planned reduction doubles the 10% cut ordered last year.

Hegseth is expected to outline the changes during his “State of the Force” address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday. Pentagon officials say the reduction will apply across the military services and is expected to be completed by January 1, 2027.

According to reporting based on Pentagon officials, the plan concerns positions for one- to four-star generals and admirals. Some positions are expected to be eliminated, while others could be downgraded so they can be filled by officers at lower ranks.

The Pentagon’s latest move follows Hegseth’s May 2025 directive ordering reductions in senior military positions. That directive included a minimum 20% reduction in active-duty four-star positions, a minimum 20% reduction in National Guard general officers and an additional 10% reduction through changes to the military’s unified command structure.

The latest plan would bring the overall reduction in general and flag officer positions to 20%, according to Pentagon officials cited by AP. The military currently has roughly 800 such positions, meaning the changes could affect about 170 positions.

The restructuring comes as the Pentagon continues to review the organization and priorities of the U.S. armed forces. Hegseth has argued that reducing senior-level bureaucracy will allow the military to focus more resources and attention on operational readiness. The plan is expected to be implemented across the Army, Navy, Air Force and the broader joint military structure.