Hegseth to Double Pentagon General and Admiral Cuts

War Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce a significant reduction in the number of general and admiral positions within the Pentagon. During his State of the Force address on Wednesday, Hegseth plans to unveil measures that will cut these senior leadership billets by 20%, effectively doubling the reduction ordered in the previous year.

The directive applies to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the military's joint pool. Memos reviewed by Fox News Digital indicate that the services have been instructed to implement these reductions by January 1, 2027. This initiative aims to streamline the military's senior ranks, a goal Hegseth has previously described as "less generals, more GIs," intending to shift resources and authority towards troops closer to operational theaters.

The latest reduction targets specific positions, known as billets, rather than an across-the-board removal of currently serving officers. Some positions may be downgraded rather than eliminated entirely. For instance, a memo from September 16th regarding reductions to the joint pool directed officials to establish requirements for colonels and Navy captains to fill positions previously held by general and flag officers.

This announcement follows a similar move last year when Hegseth initiated a 10% overall reduction in general and flag officer positions. That earlier effort also included a 20% cut in active-duty four-star positions and a 20% reduction in National Guard general officers. Hegseth summoned nearly 800 generals, admirals, and senior enlisted leaders to Marine Corps Base Quantico in September 2025 to outline his expectations and advocate for reforms.

During the previous reduction announcement in May 2025, Hegseth emphasized that the process was deliberative and aimed at maximizing strategic readiness and operational effectiveness in coordination with the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He stated it was not intended as a punitive measure against high-ranking officers.

The upcoming State of the Force address is also expected to highlight Hegseth's priorities for the military in the coming year. Internal Pentagon guidance for this year's event has reportedly asked commands to select top-performing service members who meet fitness, body-composition, and appearance standards to attend, with some expected to participate in a workout session with Hegseth.