Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has proposed reducing the number of four-star generals and admirals in the U.S. military by at least 20 percent.
• The plan also includes a 20 percent reduction in National Guard generals and a 10 percent cut in other flag officer roles across the military.
• Hegseth described the initiative, titled 'Fewer Generals, More Soldiers,' as a strategy to eliminate bureaucracy and maintain the U.S. military’s global combat effectiveness.
• Details on the timeline, criteria, and processes for implementing the cuts have not yet been provided by the Pentagon.
• This announcement builds on President Trump’s earlier dismissals of senior Pentagon and intelligence leaders in February and April 2025.