Overview

• Hegseth's directive, announced May 5, calls for a two-phase reduction targeting 20% of four-star generals and National Guard officers, followed by a 10% cut to all general and flag officer positions.
• The policy, branded 'Less Generals, More GIs,' aims to streamline leadership, reallocating resources from headquarters to combat units for increased operational readiness.
• Critics, including lawmakers, warn the cuts risk politicizing the military and could clash with congressional statutes requiring legislative approval for changes to officer ranks.
• The reductions follow a series of high-profile firings of senior officers earlier this year, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Navy's top admiral.
• Hegseth compares current leadership ratios unfavorably to World War II levels, arguing the military has become 'top-heavy' despite a significantly smaller active force today.