Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is preparing to announce another shake-up of the Pentagon’s senior leadership during a speech to U.S. forces Wednesday. In his State of the Force address at Quantico, Virginia, he is expected to outline his priorities for the coming year and unveil plans to significantly reduce the military’s top ranks, Fox News first reported. The proposal would cut positions designated for generals and admirals by 20%, a policy Hegseth is expected to discuss before an audience of senior officials, including generals and admirals. The move would accelerate his effort to shrink the military’s senior leadership. Last year, the Pentagon chief announced a 10% reduction in general and flag officer positions. The latest plan would double that reduction and apply specifically to billets reserved for generals and admirals—not to the armed forces as a whole, including junior enlisted personnel and officers. Some positions would not be eliminated but instead downgraded to lower ranks, such as colonel or captain, Fox reported.
Hegseth pushes ‘less generals, more GIs’
Hegseth has repeatedly criticized what he calls Pentagon “bloat” and bureaucracy, arguing that they slow decision-making and undermine readiness. His stated goal is “less generals, more GIs.” He has described the effort as a deliberate process rather than a “slash-and-burn exercise,” saying prudent reductions are intended to strengthen strategic readiness and operational effectiveness. Congress reported that, as of September 2025, the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force had 848 active-duty generals and flag officers combined.
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Pentagon cuts could strain Congress ties
There were a total of 36 generals and admirals. A flat 20% reduction in authorized general and flag officer billets would bring the number of senior Pentagon officials to roughly 680, although the final figure is expected to be lower because some roles will be downgraded. Hegseth’s earlier force-reduction initiatives have already angered several Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and the latest proposal could further damage relations between the Pentagon and Congress.
GOP senators question Pentagon leadership changes
“I don’t have any confidence in him anymore,” outgoing Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said over the summer. “I think he’s all over the place, he’s accelerating the retirement or forcing out some of the most distinguished leaders in the DOD that we have.” Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine recently told Semafor that her concerns about Hegseth removing highly capable military officials had been realized. “He has blocked promotions for some of our most capable military officers. The number of women and Black people that had been struck from the list was awful,” she said. The Pentagon was contacted for comment.
