Hegseth Directs 20% Reduction in General and Admiral Positions
publishers 11articles 11first reported 29 Sep, 21:30 UTCdeveloping since 30 Sep · 3 editions
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that he had directed the U.S. military to reduce general and flag officer positions by 20%, expanding an effort to shrink its senior ranks.
Hegseth announced the move during an address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. He said the military had dismissed about 10% of its generals and admirals and reduced the overall number of general-officer positions by another 10%, describing the combined reduction as “20% across the board.”
Fox News reported that the services were directed to complete the reductions by Jan. 1, 2027, although Hegseth did not give a timeline during his speech. The changes concern authorized positions rather than requiring the immediate removal of one-fifth of serving senior officers. Some posts are expected to be eliminated, while others could be downgraded so they can be filled by colonels or Navy captains.
Congressional Research Service data cited by Military.com puts the number of general and flag officer positions at 857. A 20% reduction based on that figure would affect roughly 170 positions, though the Pentagon has not detailed how cuts would be distributed among the military services.
The plan builds on reductions Hegseth ordered in 2025, including a 10% cut in general and flag officer positions and separate 20% reductions in active four-star posts and National Guard general officers.
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