Hegseth to Announce 20% Cut to General and Admiral Positions in Major Pentagon Shake-Up

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce a 20% cut to slots designated for admirals and generals at the Pentagon as part of his push to overhaul the department, a Pentagon official confirmed to The Hill on Tuesday.

The reductions will affect senior leadership positions across the Army, Navy and Air Force, according to the official.

Hegseth is expected to unveil the cuts on Wednesday during his State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

The Pentagon chief will speak to junior officers and enlisted leaders at the base, where he will lay out his priorities for the department in the coming months, including the major leadership shake-up.

The announcement was first reported by Fox News Digital. According to memos reviewed by Fox, the service branches are expected to implement the cuts by Jan. 1, while some positions will be downgraded rather than eliminated.

The latest move builds on Hegseth’s earlier efforts to trim the military’s top brass. Last year, he sought to reduce the number of active-duty four-star generals and admirals by at least 10%.

In May 2025, Hegseth directed Pentagon leadership to cut the number of general officers in the National Guard by at least 20%. He also ordered a 10% reduction in the total number of general and flag officers, meaning those holding a one-star rank or higher.

In that May order, Hegseth said he wanted “Less Generals, more GIs” and aimed to “shift resources from bloated headquarters elements to our warfighters.”

At the time, the Defense secretary argued the reductions were critical to removing “redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions.”

Ahead of Wednesday’s address, the Pentagon is requiring troops who attend the speech to meet waist-to-height requirements and display “impeccable” grooming standards.

The upcoming cuts come as Hegseth has fired or pushed out more than two dozen military leaders across the branches since taking the helm at the Pentagon.

Those personnel moves have unnerved lawmakers on Capitol Hill from both parties.

Hegseth has also blocked the promotions of officers who were slated to become one-star and two-star generals. The Defense secretary has maintained that military leaders serve at the pleasure of the president.