Pete Hegseth to order 20% cut to US generals and admirals in Quantico address

Planned reductions in military leadership

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will announce a plan to cut flag and general officer positions across the armed forces by 20% during his annual State of the Force address on Wednesday. Hegseth will deliver the speech to military personnel at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, marking the second consecutive year he has given the address at the facility. The directive will instruct the Army, Navy, and Air Force to double the 10% reduction to top billets that Hegseth initially ordered in May 2025. Service branches will have until 1 January 2027 to implement the personnel reductions across the military's roughly 800 to 850 general and flag officer positions. Some designated roles will not be eliminated outright, but rather downgraded to the rank of colonel or Navy captain. Because general officer totals are established by law, the Pentagon also plans to reduce headcount by withholding replacement nominations from Congress.

Prior dismissals and personnel changes

The upcoming directive follows an extensive restructuring of top military ranks since Hegseth assumed office under President Donald Trump in January 2025. More than two dozen senior military commanders have been dismissed or pressured into retirement during that period. In late February, Hegseth removed Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti without public explanation, shortly before the conflict with Iran began. The administration has fired the only two women serving as four-star officers, while also ousting senior Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard leaders. In April, Hegseth dismissed Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George and blocked dozens of lower-level promotions. Departures have also reached civilian leadership, where Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned in early September following recurring disputes with the defense secretary.

Strategic rationale and standards

Hegseth has framed the reductions under the slogan "fewer generals, more GIs," arguing that resources should be redirected from headquarters staff to combat units. In a memorandum released in May 2025, Hegseth asserted that previous cuts were necessary to eliminate redundant structures and remove unnecessary bureaucratic layers. At that time, Hegseth directed the active-duty military to reduce four-star general officers by 20% and instructed the National Guard to shed 20% of its top leadership positions. During his speech at Quantico last year, Hegseth demanded adherence to what he described as a warrior ethos, telling attendees to resign if they disagreed. He also criticized physical fitness and appearance standards among leadership, stating that fat generals and admirals were unacceptable.

Hegseth delivered specific guidance on physical standards during that previous address:

Simply put, if you do not meet the male-level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a [physical training] test or don't want to shave and look professional, it's time for a new position or a new profession.

Political scrutiny and congressional friction

The ongoing cuts and dismissals have generated scrutiny across both parties in Congress. At a House hearing in April, Republican Representative Austin Scott of Georgia stated that the firing of Gen. George would have a chilling effect on the operation of the armed services. Hegseth has defended the personnel decisions by arguing that military commanders serve at the pleasure of the president. Hegseth currently faces introduced articles of impeachment as relations with lawmakers remain strained over unsubmitted nominations and command vacancies.