Hegseth Cutting Generals and Admirals by 20% Amid Iran War
The Pentagon chief is expected to double his earlier target and shrink the top ranks of the US military.
Hegseth – (Special Correspondent/Web Desk) – Hegseth cutting generals and admirals by 20% is the next big move in his plan to reshape the Pentagon, according to US media reports on Tuesday.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to announce the plan on Wednesday. He will speak at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
Two US officials shared the details with Reuters. The audience will include hundreds of junior officers and enlisted troops.
The cut will apply to positions for one-star to four-star generals and admirals. It doubles the minimum reduction he set last year.
Last year, Hegseth ordered a 20% cut in four-star general and admiral posts. He also set a minimum 10% cut across all general and flag officer roles.
Officers will not be sent home right away. One official told Reuters that some future posts would be lowered in rank, while others would be removed.
The move adds to a long list of changes at the top of the Pentagon. Hegseth has removed several senior commanders since he took office.
In April, he removed Army Chief of Staff General Randy George. General Charles Brown Jr, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti were dismissed earlier.
Both were let go shortly before the war with Iran began on February 28.
Other senior figures have also left. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned earlier this month after months of tension with Hegseth.
President Donald Trump then named Adam Telle as acting Army secretary. The timing is sensitive. The United States is still fighting the war with Iran.
The Pentagon has also faced questions about damage to US bases and the loss of weapons during the conflict.
ABC News reported that it is not yet clear how the new cuts will work. It is also unclear if cutting senior posts in wartime will affect daily military operations.
Hegseth gave a similar speech at Quantico last year. He criticised what he called “fat generals” and attacked diversity programs.
He also defended his removal of senior officers. Reuters reported that he told military leaders who disliked his approach to resign.
The Pentagon did not reply right away to a request for comment from AFP.
For now, many questions remain. Officers, lawmakers and the public will look for more detail after Wednesday’s speech.
The main points are simple. The cut is bigger than before, it reaches all general and admiral ranks, and it comes while the country is at war.
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