Hegseth orders 20% cut in four-stars from active duty and Guard

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the Pentagon to cut its number of four-star active-duty and National Guard leaders by a minimum of 20%, according to a new memo.

There are around 44 active-duty four-star officers across the U.S. military services, with the figure being based on the statutory limits set by U.S. law, which caps the numbers in each service branch.

The department must also, at an unspecified later time, find another 10% minimum reduction in all general and flag officers in line with what will be DOD’s new Unified Command Plan. There are roughly 800 general and flag officers serving in the U.S. military.

DOD must be “unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that hinder their growth and effectiveness,” Hegseth wrote.

“A critical step in this process is removing redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions,” he continued. “Through these measures, we will uphold our position as the most lethal fighting force in the world, achieving peace through strength and ensuring greater efficiency, innovation and preparedness for any challenge that lies ahead.”

In a video posted to X, Hegseth said the policy can be summed up as “less generals, more GIs” and asserted that DOD had the analysis to back up its decision and that it was not a “slash and burn” approach.

“More generals and admirals does not equal more success,” he said. “This has been a deliberative process working with the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”

The cuts, Hegseth said, are being put in place to execute DOD’s new Unified Command Plan, which he said would, when complete, be the department’s “most comprehensive review” since the Goldwater-Nichols reforms of 1986.