Hegseth To Cut 20% Of 4-star Generals, Admirals

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants nan U.S. subject to trim nan number of officials attaining nan highest ranks. In a Monday, May 5, memo to elder Pentagon officials, Hegseth said nan simplification is portion of “ensuring lethality of U.S. Military Forces.”

“To execute this mission, we must cultivate exceptional elder leaders who thrust invention and operational excellence, unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that inhibit their maturation and effectiveness,” he said. 

The “Less generals, much G.I.s” order, arsenic Hegseth referred to it successful a post to X, reductions listed were a minimum 20% simplification of four-star generals crossed nan Active Component, a minimum 20% simplification successful National Guard officers and different 10% simplification successful wide and emblem officers pinch nan realignment of nan Unified Command Plan. 

Introducing nan “Less Generals More GIs Policy.” pic.twitter.com/bQLRL2MqSC

The scheme would beryllium divided into 2 phases, Hegseth said. The first pertains to nan 20% reductions, while nan 2nd offers a deeper introspection of nan military’s wide cognition plan.

CBS News attributed Department of Defense information showing 38 four-star generals aliases admirals arsenic of March 31. CNN listed 37 arsenic precocious arsenic 2023. The Defense caput said location are presently 44.

“Through these measures, we will uphold our position arsenic nan astir lethal fighting unit successful nan world, achieving bid done spot and ensuring greater efficiency, innovation, and preparedness for immoderate situation that lies ahead,” Hegseth said.

Telegraphed reductions

Hegseth gave a preview of sorts of his position that nan American subject branches had excessively galore elder leaders. 

“There are thousands of further Pentagon positions, office positions, different positions that person been created complete nan past 30 years that don’t needfully construe to battlefield success,” he told a municipality hallway crowd astatine nan Pentagon successful February. “We won World War II pinch 7 four-star generals. Today, we person 44.”

Hegseth said nan simplification intends to “maximize strategical readiness,” not to “slash and burn” high-ranking officers. He called it nan astir broad subject reorganization since nan Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986. 

The reorganization comes months aft nan Trump management announced nan firing of Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. connected Feb. 21. Brown served arsenic president of nan Joint Chiefs of Staff. Hegseth has besides steered reductions successful headcount astatine nan Pentagon pinch nan consultation of nan U.S. Department of Government Efficiency.