Politics
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has approved a plan to reduce the number of positions designated for generals and admirals by 20% as part of a major restructuring of the military’s senior leadership.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has approved a plan to reduce the number of positions designated for generals and admirals by 20% as part of a major restructuring of the military’s senior leadership. The move is aimed at reducing unnecessary bureaucracy at the highest levels and giving greater authority to personnel closer to military operations. According to Fox News, Hegseth approved the plans earlier this month to reduce positions allocated to generals and admirals across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the joint pool of senior military officers. The reductions are expected to be completed by January 1, 2027.
The new target is twice the overall 10% reduction in general and flag officer positions that Hegseth announced last year. According to the U.S. broadcaster, the cuts will apply to positions designated for generals and admirals. This does not mean that 20% of the generals and admirals currently holding those positions will be removed. Instead of eliminating some positions entirely, certain posts will be downgraded in rank. As a result, colonels and Navy captains could take on responsibilities that were previously reserved for higher-ranking officers.
Hegseth has argued that reducing the size of the senior leadership structure will eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy and allow greater authority to be delegated to personnel closer to military operations. When Hegseth first announced the reduction plan in May 2025, he said it was not an exercise aimed at eliminating large numbers of positions as a way of punishing senior-ranking officers. Hegseth is expected to provide details of the changes during his “State of the Force” address on Wednesday.
