Washington
Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth has mandated a reduction of at least 20% in the active-duty four-star generals and admirals within the US military, according to a memo from the Secretary of Defense issued on Monday.
This decision marks another significant shift in the Pentagon under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has already seen the dismissal of several senior officials this year.
The memo further calls for a 10% decrease in the total number of general and flag officers, along with a 20% cut in national security personnel.
The specific methods for achieving these cuts weren’t outlined.
There are currently 38 four-star officers—the highest rank typically reachable in the US military—and as of March 2025, there are a total of 817 generals and admirals on active duty.
The intended cuts aim to eliminate redundant structures and enhance leadership efficiency by trimming down the number of senior executive roles, according to the memo.
Hegseth later shared a video on X discussing “The Changes,” noting that, despite the large size of the military during World War II, fewer high-ranking officers were present at that time.
He mentioned that the reductions would happen in two phases, starting with four-star officers and National Guard generals, followed by a 10% decrease in overall generals and admirals.
– “A place where you can cut fat” –
“This isn’t about punishing top executives,” he clarified. “It’s a careful process working collaboratively towards maximizing strategic readiness and operational effectiveness.”
During a confirmation hearing earlier in January, Hegseth expressed to lawmakers that the Pentagon is top-heavy with bureaucracy and requires trimming.
Since starting his second term in January, Trump has overseen a cleanup of high-ranking officials, including the recent dismissal of co-chief Charles “CQ” Brown without explanation in February.
Other senior military leaders let go this year include heads of the Navy and Coast Guard, the general leading the National Security Agency, the deputy chief of staff of the Air Force, a naval admiral associated with NATO, and three other high-ranking military personnel.
Hegseth argues that the president simply selects the leaders he prefers; however, Democrats have raised concerns regarding the potential politicization of the historically nonpartisan US military.
Additionally, the Pentagon announced in February an intention to reduce civilian staff by at least 5% as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to cut federal workforce costs.
