Pentagon Chief Orders Major Cut to Top Military Brass

Tuesday 06 May 2025 - 10:33

By: Zahouani Ilham

Pentagon Chief Orders Major Cut to Top Military Brass

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a significant restructuring of the military’s leadership ranks, mandating a minimum 20% reduction in the number of active-duty four-star generals and admirals. This decision, detailed in a recent Pentagon memo, reflects a broader effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to streamline defense operations and reduce high-ranking personnel.

The directive also includes a 10% overall cut to general and flag officers across the armed forces and a 20% reduction in general officers within the National Guard. As of March 2025, the U.S. military counted 38 four-star officers and a total of 817 generals and admirals on active duty.

According to the memo, these changes aim to eliminate unnecessary layers of command and improve operational efficiency by consolidating leadership roles. Hegseth later emphasized this point in a video message posted on social media, labeling the initiative "less generals, more GIs." He noted that despite the military’s larger size during World War II, it operated with fewer high-ranking officers.

The reduction will occur in two phases: the initial phase targets four-star positions and National Guard generals, followed by a second phase involving a 10% decrease in the broader general and admiral ranks. Hegseth clarified that this is not an attempt to punish senior officers but rather a thoughtful reorganization in collaboration with the Joint Chiefs of Staff to boost readiness and effectiveness.

Hegseth has long criticized the Pentagon for being overly bureaucratic. During his Senate confirmation, he pledged to identify inefficiencies and redirect resources toward combat capability. Since Trump’s second term began, several senior military leaders have been removed, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the heads of the Navy and Coast Guard, and other top-ranking officials.

While the administration defends the changes as leadership realignment, some lawmakers, particularly Democrats, have voiced concerns about political interference in military appointments. In addition to the cuts to military leadership, the Pentagon announced in February its intention to reduce civilian personnel by at least 5% to contribute to federal cost-saving measures.