Hegseth to cut US general and admiral posts by 20%
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to announce a 20% cut in the number of positions reserved for generals and admirals, in a move that would affect leadership across the Army, Navy and Air Force. The announcement is due during a visit to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, where he is scheduled to deliver a "State of the Force" address. The plan would deepen an earlier reduction and is set to be completed by 1 January 2027.
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A Pentagon official said the change would double the 10% reduction Hegseth ordered last year, bringing the total cut to roughly 20% across about 800 flag and general officer positions. Reports cited by officials said the reductions could include any one-star general or above, or officers of equivalent Navy rank. The expected announcement comes as Hegseth addresses junior officers and enlisted personnel in Virginia.
The move follows a wider shake-up in senior military leadership since the start of the Trump administration in January 2025. More than two dozen military leaders have been fired or pushed into retirement, including the Army's top uniformed officer, General Randy George, in April. The administration has also removed the only two women serving as four-star officers, while other senior officials have left through retirements and resignations, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who resigned this month after repeated clashes with Hegseth.
Hegseth has argued that reducing the highest ranks is intended to remove redundant force structure and streamline leadership. In a memo released in May 2025, he said the aim was to free the military from unnecessary bureaucratic layers. The latest cut would therefore be part of a broader effort to reshape the Pentagon's command structure and reduce the number of senior posts.
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The proposal matters because it could affect hundreds of current and rising military leaders and alter the balance of command across the armed forces. It also comes amid continuing debate over the administration's approach to military culture and personnel policy. Last year, Hegseth said he wanted to end what he described as woke culture and introduced new directives on physical fitness standards.
What remains unclear is which specific posts will be removed and how the services will implement the reductions before the 2027 deadline. It is also not yet clear how many officers will be directly affected by retirements, denied promotions or reassignment. The next key moment will be Hegseth's address in Virginia, where more detail on the scope and timing of the cuts is expected.
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