Hegseth to cut US general and admiral positions by 20%

September 30, 2026 at 10:05 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will cut the number of US general and admiral positions by 20 percent, a Pentagon official said. Hegseth is expected to announce the decision on Wednesday during a visit to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The move follows more than two dozen firings or forced retirements of military leaders since January 2025.

Key Facts

The reduction will affect leadership across the Army, Navy and Air Force, according to a Pentagon official.
Hegseth will direct all military services to double the 10 percent reduction ordered last year, making a 20 percent total decrease to be completed by January 1, 2027.
The cuts could affect the careers of hundreds of current and rising military leaders, The Washington Post reported.
More than two dozen military leaders have been fired or pushed into retirement since January 2025, including Army General Randy George in April.
Senator Jack Reed, ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the planned cuts should alarm every American.

The Reduction Plan

Hegseth will announce the decision on Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia during his State of the Force address. The Associated Press reported that Hegseth will direct all military services to double the 10 percent reduction he ordered last year to the roughly 800 flag and general officer positions. Fox News reported the new reductions could include any one-star general or above or officer of equivalent Navy rank. The Washington Post reported that the cuts could affect the careers of hundreds of current and rising military leaders following scores of firings and denied promotions.

Leadership Purge

President Donald Trump or Hegseth have fired or pushed into retirement more than two dozen military leaders since taking office in January 2025. The administration also fired the only two women serving as four-star officers, along with several other senior female officers. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned this month after repeated clashes with Hegseth.

Reaction

Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed concern over Hegseth's latest move. Reed said eliminating senior leadership positions must be done in consultation with Congress and warned that the planned cuts should alarm every American.