Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo to senior Pentagon leadership on Monday ordering a minimum 20% reduction in the number of four-star generals and admirals throughout the military.
He also directed that at least 20% of general officers in the National Guard and 10% of all flag and general officers be cut.
In the one-page memo, which was posted on the Defense Department’s website, Hegseth said that to “drive innovation and operational excellence, the military must be unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that hinder their growth and effectiveness,” and that part of achieving this “is removing redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions.”
Hegseth announced the memo in a video on X, saying, “We’re going to shift resources from bloated headquarters elements to our warfighters.”
He did not provide a timeline for the cuts, but stated that they would be carried out “expeditiously.”
As of March 31, 2025, the Defense Department reports 38 four-star generals or admirals. CNN first reported on Hegseth’s memo.
Hegseth has previously questioned the number of high-ranking military officers.
“We won WWII with seven four-star generals. “Today we have 44,” Hegseth said at a Pentagon town hall in February. “Do all of these have a direct impact on warfighting success? Maybe they do—I’m not sure—but it’s worth checking to make sure.”
