Hegseth to Order 20 Percent Cut in US Generals, Other Officers: Pentagon Official

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will announce a 20 percent reduction in the number of general officers across the U.S. military, a Department of War official confirmed to The Epoch Times on Sept. 29.

Hegseth is set to publicize the news during a State of the Force Address at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 30. He convened hundreds of senior military officers and enlisted leaders for a similar address at Quantico last year, during which he announced a series of reforms to reshape the U.S. military’s culture.

Fox News first reported on the planned reduction in slots for U.S. generals and admirals, citing internal memos the outlet obtained.

This planned reduction in the total number of officers doubles a set of cuts that Hegseth requested in May 2025.

At the time, he requested a 10 percent reduction in the overall number of general officers, with a 20 percent reduction in four-star active generals and a further 20 percent reduction in all reserve component general officers.

Hegseth said the previous round of general officer cuts was intended to remove layers of bureaucracy.

“A critical step in this process is removing redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions,” he said at the time.

Since taking office, Hegseth has taken other steps to thin the ranks of senior military leaders, which included blocking promotions of several officers.

This past week, Hegseth announced a new process to assess military officers seeking promotion to the general officer ranks. Dubbed the Joint Warfighter Evaluation, the process will assess officers on their warfighting competency, “not paper credentials.”

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have raised concerns over Hegseth’s moves to overhaul the military’s leadership.

“You are hollowing out the military’s bench of experience and highest-performing senior officers while making young officers wonder if they should continue to serve,” Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-R.I.) told Hegseth during an April 30 hearing to discuss the military’s budget for fiscal year 2027.

During that same hearing, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) told Hegseth that she was disappointed to hear he had a role in pressuring then-Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and then-Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Mingus to retire.

At a July 21 hearing, Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine) called reports of Hegseth’s efforts to fire and block promotions for dozens of military officers “deeply troubling.”