US war secretary plans to cut top military positions by 20 percent
War Secretary Pete Hegseth. File photo
US War Secretary Pete Hegseth has planned to reduce by 20 percent the number of positions designated for generals and admirals in the US military. A Pentagon official told Al Jazeera about the plan.
The move could bring changes to the top leadership of the Army, Navy and Air Force. Hegseth may announce the decision while delivering a “State of the Force” speech at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday.
Several US media outlets have also reported the plan citing officials.
The Associated Press reported that Hegseth will order the reduction of about 800 general and flag officer positions to 20 percent. Last year, he had ordered a 10 percent reduction in those positions. The target is to reduce the total number of positions by 20 percent by January 1, 2027.
Fox News reported that the new cuts could affect one-star generals or higher-ranking officers as well as Navy officers of equivalent rank.
The Washington Post reported that the decision could affect the careers of several hundred military officers both currently and in the future. The new reduction plan comes after several senior officials were dismissed or denied promotions in recent days.
Since President Donald Trump took office in January 2025, more than two dozen military officials have been dismissed or forced to retire in coordination with Hegseth. Army Chief General Randy George was among them in April.
The administration has also removed the only two female officers holding four-star positions. Several other senior female officers have also been removed from their positions. Several other top officials have retired or resigned.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll also resigned this month. He stepped down after disagreements with Hegseth over several issues.
When Hegseth first announced the initiative to reduce positions at the top level of the military, he said the goal was to make the leadership structure more effective and streamlined. In a memorandum issued in May 2025, he said his objective was to free the military from “unnecessary bureaucratic layers.”
Last year, Hegseth also announced an end to the “woke” culture in the military. At the same time, he ordered the introduction of “gender neutral” or “male standard” physical fitness standards for soldiers’ physical fitness tests.
Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has expressed concern over Hegseth’s new plan.
In a statement, Reed said the decision to reduce the number of senior military positions should be made in consultation with Congress. Regarding the proposed cuts, he said it “should concern every American.”
Reed said Hegseth had been asked to consult with Congress to explain the reasons for removing senior officials and blocking their promotions. However, no satisfactory explanation has yet been provided.
He also said the US military is conducting major operations in various parts of the world and the force is already under pressure.
Under the law, the number of general and admiral positions in the military is set. However, these positions can remain vacant if the administration does not submit the name of an officer to Congress.
Source: Al Jazeera (Adapted)
