US defense chief Hegseth orders 20% cut in top military leadership positions

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth ordered at least a 20 percent reduction in the number of active-duty four-star generals and admirals in the US military, a memo from the defense secretary says.

The move is the latest major shakeup at the Pentagon under US President Donald Trump’s administration, which has already fired a series of senior officers this year.

The memo also calls for an additional 10% reduction in the number of general and flag officers, and a 20% cut in the number of general officers in the National Guard.

It does not specify how the reductions would be accomplished.

There were 38 four-star officers — the highest rank that can usually be achieved in the US military — and a total of 817 generals and admirals in the active-duty forces as of March 2025.

The cuts are aimed at removing “redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions,” the memo says.