U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has instructed top Pentagon officials to reduce the number of four-star generals and admirals across the military by at least 20%, according to a memo signed by Hegseth on Monday.
As of last year, the U.S. military had 37 four-star generals and admirals. The directive also calls for a 20% reduction in general officers within the National Guard and a 10% overall cut in general and flag officers—those holding the rank of one-star and above—across all service branches. Currently, there are approximately 900 such officers in total.
Hegseth described the move as a “critical” initiative aimed at eliminating redundant leadership positions and enhancing efficiency by streamlining the military’s command structure. The effort is part of a broader push across the administration to reduce the size of the federal government.
Among the proposals under consideration are possible mergers of major combatant commands, including combining U.S. European Command with U.S. Africa Command to create a more unified strategic framework.
Hegseth has long expressed concerns about the size and influence of the military’s senior leadership. During his confirmation hearing, he suggested the top ranks are bloated, and in a podcast interview last summer, he claimed that roughly one-third of the military’s most senior officers are “actively complicit” in what he views as the politicization of the armed forces.
According to Hegseth, another segment of senior leaders quietly oppose these trends but lack the authority or willingness to make substantial changes. In a separate interview, he criticized top officers for allegedly adopting policies that align with ideological trends in Washington, saying they comply with initiatives related to social justice, climate policy, and extremism to secure career advancement.
These changes come amid a broader reshuffling of military leadership. Earlier this year, the current administration removed several top military figures, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the chief of naval operations. That same evening, Hegseth announced he was soliciting nominations to replace the top legal officers—the Judge Advocates General—of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
