US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is expected to announce plans to reduce by 20% the Pentagon’s slots for generals and admirals, according to reports citing memos and officials. The reductions are to be implemented across the Army, Navy, Air Force and a joint pool, with a deadline of January 1, 2027. The announcement is scheduled for Hegseth’s State of the Force address on Wednesday.
The outlets describe the move as part of a broader streamlining effort that builds on prior directives. One report says the previous year’s orders targeted a 10% overall reduction in general and flag officer positions, and also reduced active-duty four-star roles and National Guard general officers. Another source adds that the new cuts focus on “billets” (designated positions) rather than directly removing 20% of currently serving officers, with some roles potentially downgraded rather than eliminated. Both describe prior shakeups in senior ranks, including firings and resignations among top commanders, as part of the wider context.
The coverage varies in emphasis: one outlet concentrates on the personnel numbers and the implementation details of downgrades, while the other stresses the scale of leadership changes already carried out under Hegseth’s reform agenda and the scrutiny surrounding military readiness and oversight.
