BREAKING: Hegseth to cut 20% of admirals, generals in Pentagon shake-up

The reduction of top brass will be a downgrade of some positions instead of eliminating all of them altogether. The reduction plans apply to the Army, Navy, Air Force and the military's joint pool and were approved earlier this month. The directives will be given and will be expected to be completed by the new year.

Last year, as part of an overall reduction in general and flag officer positions, there was a 10 percent reduction goal. The order this time around doubles that reduction rate as Hegseth has started to streamline a reduction in military ranks.

He has dubbed the effort "less generals, more GIs," and has said that the reduction of top brass allows for those troops on the ground to have more authority over decisions on the ground and closer to the fight. In the September 16 memo directing the effort, Hegseth ordered that official will establish 0-6 requirements for positions that will be downgraded.

The move from Hegseth comes after the War Secretary announced new battlefield testing for future generals and that promotions will be based on their ability to "to fight, adapt, and win."

“While the backbone of our military is our NCOs [noncommissioned officers] and our petty officers, victory depends on the commanders who lead them,” Hegseth said in a video posted to social media earlier in September.

"This is not a slash-and-burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers," Hegseth said about earlier reductions in May 2025. "This has been a deliberative process, working with the Joint Chiefs of Staff with one goal: maximizing strategic readiness and operational effectiveness by making prudent reductions in the general and flag officer ranks."