Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to announce a 20% reduction in positions designated for generals and admirals across the Army, Navy, and Air Force, according to two Pentagon officials who spoke with The Hill.
Hegseth is scheduled to reveal the plan Wednesday during his State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The speech will focus on his priorities for the Defense Department and is expected to include details of a major change to the military’s senior leadership structure.
Reductions Target Senior Leadership
The planned cuts will affect positions held by senior officers across the military services. Some roles may be eliminated, while others could be downgraded rather than removed entirely, according to memos reviewed by Fox News Digital.
The service branches have been asked to carry out the reductions by January 1. The move is part of Hegseth’s broader effort to reduce what he views as unnecessary layers of leadership and redirect resources toward service members involved in military operations.
Hegseth previously summarized that approach with the phrase, “Less Generals, more GIs.” He has argued that reducing excess general and flag officer positions would help the Pentagon remove redundant force structures and streamline decision-making.
Earlier Pentagon Orders
The latest proposal follows a series of reductions Hegseth pursued after taking charge of the Pentagon.
In May 2025, he directed Pentagon leaders to reduce the number of general officers serving in the National Guard by at least 20%. The order also called for a 10% reduction in the total number of general and flag officers holding the rank of one star or higher.
Hegseth also sought to reduce the number of active-duty four-star generals and admirals by at least 10%. The new plan would expand the focus beyond the highest-ranking officers and affect a wider range of senior leadership positions.
Growing Concern on Capitol Hill
The leadership shake-up comes after Hegseth removed or pressured more than two dozen military leaders across the service branches. Those personnel decisions have drawn criticism from lawmakers in both parties.
Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican from Maine and chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, expressed concern in July about the removal of senior officers and the blocking of promotions for lower-ranking personnel.
“I find this deeply troubling,” Collins said during a congressional hearing. She noted that the affected service members had volunteered to serve the country and sworn an oath to defend the Constitution.
Rep. Austin Scott, a Republican from Georgia who serves on the House Armed Services Committee, previously warned that Hegseth’s removal of Gen. Randy George, the former Army chief of staff, could have a “chilling effect” on military operations and leadership.
Promotions Also Blocked
Hegseth’s changes have extended beyond leadership reductions. He has also blocked promotions for officers selected to become one-star and two-star generals.
The Defense secretary has argued that military leaders serve at the president’s pleasure, giving the administration authority to make changes among senior officers.
Critics, however, say repeated removals and blocked promotions could affect morale, disrupt succession planning, and make officers more hesitant to offer independent advice.
Requirements for Wednesday’s Speech
Troops attending Hegseth’s State of the Force address will reportedly have to meet waist-to-height requirements and maintain what the Pentagon described as “impeccable” grooming standards.
The speech is expected to provide more details about the planned reductions, the timeline for implementation, and Hegseth’s broader vision for reorganizing the Defense Department’s senior leadership.
