Hegseth Plans to Cut General and Admiral Posts by 20 Percent

Washington (GNP): United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to announce a plan to cut by 20 per cent the number of positions allocated to generals and admirals across the US military, according to American officials.

The announcement is due on Wednesday during a speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Hundreds of junior officers and enlisted personnel are expected to attend.

The cut applies to billets, meaning positions designated for one- to four-star generals and admirals. It does not mean 20 per cent of serving officers in those ranks will be dismissed. Officials said some posts would be downgraded and filled by lower-ranking officers, while others would be eliminated altogether.

The scale of the reduction is what makes the plan significant. In May 2025, Hegseth ordered a minimum 20 per cent cut in four-star positions across the active component and the same reduction for National Guard general officers. He also ordered a further minimum 10 per cent cut in general and flag officer posts through changes to the Unified Command Plan. The new 20 per cent figure would more than double that last reduction.

The Pentagon has argued that fewer senior posts would remove unnecessary layers of bureaucracy and shift resources and authority towards operational forces. Hegseth has repeatedly called for a leaner senior command structure.

The plan also follows a broader reshaping of the military’s top ranks since he took office. Hegseth has removed or forced out several senior commanders, including Army Chief of Staff General Randy George, Joint Chiefs Chairman General Charles Brown Jr and Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti.

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The timing has drawn attention because the United States remains engaged in its war with Iran. The Pentagon has faced scrutiny over damage to US military bases and weapons losses during the conflict, and the latest cuts raise questions about how a smaller senior command could affect operations.

Wednesday’s speech also comes almost exactly a year after Hegseth’s previous address at Quantico. On that occasion he criticised what he called an overly bureaucratic military leadership structure and defended his decision to remove senior officers. He also told military leaders who disagreed with his approach that they should consider resigning.

The Pentagon has not yet said how the latest reductions will be divided among the military services or how many serving officers could ultimately be affected. Which positions will be downgraded and which eliminated is expected to become clearer after the address.