US Defence Secretary Hegseth orders 20% cut in number of top officers in military
Cuts are aimed at promoting efficiency but critics worry they could result in a more politicised force
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered at least a 20 per cent reduction in the number of active-duty four-star generals and admirals in the US military, a memo from the defence secretary said.
The move is the latest major shake-up at the Pentagon under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has already fired a series of senior officers this year.
The memo also calls for an additional 10 per cent reduction in the number of general and flag officers, and a 20 per cent cut in the number of general officers in the National Guard.
It did not specify how the reductions would be accomplished.
There were 38 four-star officers – the highest rank that can usually be achieved in the US military – and a total of 817 generals and admirals in the active-duty forces as of March 2025.
The cuts are aimed at removing “redundant force structure to optimise and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions,” the memo said.