Pete Hegseth announces a 20% reduction in generals and admirals in the U.S. military

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that the number of generals and admirals in the United States military has been reduced by 20%. The official described the measure as a long-overdue change, without providing, in the cited statement, details about the exact number of positions eliminated or the full timeline for the restructuring.

The reduction represents one of the most significant measures announced by Pentagon leadership to reorganize the command structure of the U.S. armed forces. Hegseth said that reducing the number of senior officers was necessary to make the military apparatus more efficient.

The statement does not specify whether the reduction was achieved through retirements, the elimination of positions, or the redistribution of responsibilities within the military. Nor was information provided on the measure’s impact on military operations, the chain of command, or the United States’ response capacity.

The announcement comes amid efforts to reform the leadership structure of the U.S. military and limit the senior administrative apparatus. According to Hegseth, reducing the number of generals and admirals addresses a need identified long ago.