United States: U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has announced a sweeping reduction in the number of high-ranking officers in the military, part of an aggressive plan to streamline the country’s armed forces and improve combat readiness.
In a memo issued, Hegseth ordered a 20 percent cut in the number of four-star generals and admirals, the highest-ranking officers in the U.S. military, as well as a 10 percent reduction across all general and flag officer positions. The National Guard will also see a 20 percent reduction in its general officer corps.
According to the Department of Defence, there were 38 active four-star officers as of March 31, 2025. These include the heads of major commands and branches such as the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and strategic overseas commands like U.S. Forces Korea and U.S. European Command.
Introducing the “Less Generals More GIs Policy.” pic.twitter.com/bQLRL2MqSC
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) May 5, 2025
In a video posted to X titled ‘Less Generals More GIs,’ Hegseth defended the move as a strategic shift to enhance military effectiveness rather than a punitive measure.
Hegseth pointed to a growing imbalance in military leadership, noting that the current ratio of one general for every 1,400 troops contrasts starkly with the World War II-era figure of one general per 6,000 troops.
The Defence Secretary did not identify which specific roles would be eliminated but emphasized that the decision was made in coordination with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The move aligns with broader efforts by President Donald Trump’s administration to reduce the size of the federal government and eliminate figures viewed as part of the entrenched Washington bureaucracy. Since returning to office in January, Trump has dismissed several high-ranking military leaders, including former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown and Navy chief Admiral Lisa Franchetti.
The latest round of cuts signals a shift in military leadership culture and structure under Hegseth, who has pledged to restore a more combat-focused chain of command.
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