Pentagon Head Announces Cuts to Enhance Military Readiness
Pete Hegseth, United States Secretary of Defense, has announced substantial reductions in the number of high-ranking officers, marking his latest strategy to optimize the world’s most formidable military force.
Via a memo released on Monday, Hegseth directed a 20 percent decrease in four-star generals and admirals—currently the most senior members of the US military—as well as a 10 percent decrease in the ranks of general and flag officers.
Hegseth’s memo also called for a 20 percent reduction in the number of general officers within the National Guard.
As of March 31, 2025, the US military comprised 38 four-star generals or admirals, according to data from the US Department of Defense.
In a video introducing the “Fewer Generals, More Soldiers Policy,” Hegseth noted that the US currently has one general per 1,400 troops, compared to the World War II ratio of one to 6,000.
“More generals and admirals don’t equate to greater success,” Hegseth stated in the video distributed on X.
“This is not an arbitrary measure to penalize senior officers. The exact opposite is true. After studying with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the goal is clear: enhance strategic and operational readiness by making reasonable cuts in the ranks of generals and flag officers.”
Hegseth did not disclose which positions would be eliminated.
The nearly 40 active four-star generals in the US military consist of key roles such as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chiefs of staff for the army and Air Force, the chief of naval operations, and commanders of US Africa Command, US European Command, and US Forces Korea.
These cuts are part of a larger initiative by President Donald Trump’s administration to shrink the federal government and remove perceived political adversaries.
Since his return to the White House in January, Trump or his appointees have dismissed several top military leaders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q Brown and Navy chief Admiral Lisa Franchetti.
Via a memo released on Monday, Hegseth directed a 20 percent decrease in four-star generals and admirals—currently the most senior members of the US military—as well as a 10 percent decrease in the ranks of general and flag officers.
Hegseth’s memo also called for a 20 percent reduction in the number of general officers within the National Guard.
As of March 31, 2025, the US military comprised 38 four-star generals or admirals, according to data from the US Department of Defense.
In a video introducing the “Fewer Generals, More Soldiers Policy,” Hegseth noted that the US currently has one general per 1,400 troops, compared to the World War II ratio of one to 6,000.
“More generals and admirals don’t equate to greater success,” Hegseth stated in the video distributed on X.
“This is not an arbitrary measure to penalize senior officers. The exact opposite is true. After studying with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the goal is clear: enhance strategic and operational readiness by making reasonable cuts in the ranks of generals and flag officers.”
Hegseth did not disclose which positions would be eliminated.
The nearly 40 active four-star generals in the US military consist of key roles such as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chiefs of staff for the army and Air Force, the chief of naval operations, and commanders of US Africa Command, US European Command, and US Forces Korea.
These cuts are part of a larger initiative by President Donald Trump’s administration to shrink the federal government and remove perceived political adversaries.
Since his return to the White House in January, Trump or his appointees have dismissed several top military leaders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q Brown and Navy chief Admiral Lisa Franchetti.
