Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered a reduction of at least 20 percent in the number of active-duty four-star generals and admirals in the U.S. military, according to a memo from the defense secretary.
This move marks the latest significant shakeup at the Pentagon under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has already dismissed several senior officers this year. The memo also includes a call for an additional 10 percent reduction in the total number of general and flag officers, and a 20 percent cut in the number of general officers within the National Guard.
While the memo did not outline how these reductions would be carried out, it noted that as of March 2025, there were 38 four-star officers and a total of 817 generals and admirals in the active-duty forces.
The aim of the cuts is to remove “redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions,” the memo explained.
“Through these measures, we will uphold our position as the most lethal fighting force in the world, achieving peace through strength and ensuring greater efficiency, innovation, and preparedness for any challenge that lies ahead,” it added.
Since beginning his second term in January, Trump has overseen the dismissal of several top officers, including General Charles “CQ” Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who was fired without explanation in February. Other high-ranking officers dismissed this year include the heads of the Navy and Coast Guard, the general leading the National Security Agency, the vice chief of staff of the Air Force, a Navy admiral assigned to NATO, and three senior military lawyers.
Hegseth has insisted that the president is simply selecting the leaders he prefers, but Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about the potential politicization of the traditionally neutral U.S. military.
