Hegseth plans 20% cut to general, admiral positions: Reports

Shea Taylor
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce another round of cuts to the military’s top ranks on Wednesday.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce another round of cuts to the military’s top ranks on Wednesday. The Pentagon plans to cut 20% of the positions reserved for generals and admirals, according to multiple reports.

Hegseth is set to lay out the plan during his “State of the Force” address at 3 p.m. Eastern time at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The new cuts are expected to be completed by January 1.

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At least some of the positions are expected to be downgraded rather than eliminated altogether, according to Fox News. The outlet reports that Hegseth directed officials in a Sept. 16 memo to establish O-6 requirements for general and flag officer positions identified for downgrades. O-6 is the rank of colonel in the Army, Air Force, Space Force and Marine Corps, and captain in the Navy and Coast Guard.

Hegseth doubles previous target

The new target doubles the overall 10% reduction in general and flag officer positions that Hegseth ordered last year as part of his push to streamline the military’s senior ranks. In that order, he separately mandated a 20% reduction in active-duty four-star positions, as well as a 20% reduction in National Guard general officers.

In a statement at the time, Hegseth said the cuts were needed to “drive innovation and operational excellence,” arguing that “unnecessary bureaucratic layers” were hurting the military’s effectiveness.

As of July, there were 851 active-duty generals and admirals across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force.

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Shea Taylor
Shea Taylor
Shea Taylor is a producer at Straight Arrow. She helps produce Unbiased Updates to bring viewers the news they need to start their day.
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Why this story matters

The Pentagon is reducing the number of senior military officers, a structural change to the armed forces that affects how the military is organized and led.

Scope of leadership cuts

Defense Secretary Hegseth plans to cut 20% of general and flag officer positions, doubling a prior 10% reduction ordered last year, with completion targeted by January 1.

Downgrade, not just elimination

According to Fox News, at least some positions will be downgraded to colonel-level rather than eliminated, per a September 16 memo Hegseth directed to officials.

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Fear No Fact.™

Don't just take our word for it.

Center-rated reporting

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Transparent and credible

Awarded a perfect reliability rating from NewsGuard

100/100

Welcome back to trustworthy journalism.

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Sources

  1. ABC News
  2. Fox News

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Key points from the Left

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to cut 20 percent of general and admiral posts across the armed forces, according to Pentagon officials and internal memos.
  • Hegseth is expected to announce the plan during his State of the Force address in Quantico, Virginia.
  • The cuts target positions rather than removing one in five officers, and some posts may be downgraded for colonels and Navy captains.
  • The reductions must be completed by January 1, 2027, with the stated aims of reducing excess senior structure and improving military effectiveness.

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Key points from the Center

  • On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will announce a 20% reduction in billets for generals and admirals, directing the Army, Navy, Air Force, and joint pool to complete implementation by Jan. 1, 2027.
  • Hegseth approved these reduction plans earlier this month, arguing shrinking senior leadership removes unnecessary bureaucracy; the new target doubles the 10% reduction he ordered last year.
  • Defense Department memos indicate the initiative targets specific positions rather than individual officers, with some billets downgraded to allow colonels and Navy captains to fill roles previously reserved for flag officers.
  • During his address at Quantico, Virginia, Hegseth plans to update junior service members on his priorities, stating, 'This is not a slash-and-burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers.'
  • The Defense Department is implementing battlefield-style assessments for promotion candidates alongside these reductions, reshaping how senior leaders are selected and evaluated in the coming cycle.

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Key points from the Right

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth approved plans to reduce by 20% the military positions designated for generals and admirals across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and joint organizations.
  • The services must complete the changes by January 1, 2027, under plans approved earlier in September.
  • The plan targets senior officer positions, or billets, which could be downgraded to colonel or Navy captain roles rather than eliminating them.
  • Hegseth said the restructuring is intended to reduce bureaucracy and improve readiness, not punish individual senior officers.

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Sources

  1. ABC News
  2. Fox News