Hegseth plans 20% cut to generals and admirals

Planned reduction

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to call for a 20% reduction in the number of generals and admirals across the U.S. military during a Wednesday address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. A Pentagon official confirmed the planned announcement to CBS News.

The planned reduction would affect the military’s most senior uniformed ranks. As of July, the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force had 851 active-duty generals and admirals, a Defense Department count showed. Federal law sets a limit of 857, while the total a year earlier was 848.

Details about how the new 20% goal would be applied across the military services have not been announced.

Earlier reductions

In May 2025, Hegseth directed the Defense Department to cut at least 10% of all general and flag officer positions. That order also called for a 20% reduction in National Guard general officers.

In a one-page Defense Department memo, Hegseth said reducing senior positions would eliminate overlapping command structures and simplify leadership. The new announcement would continue his effort to change the military’s senior ranks and organizational structure.

At least 20 generals, admirals and civilian military leaders have been dismissed or resigned since Hegseth became defense secretary. Those changes included the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the top uniformed officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Debate over senior ranks

A May Congressional Research Service report described competing views over the number of generals and admirals. Critics of the current structure say too many senior officers can add bureaucracy and slow decisions. Others say senior officers are needed to coordinate with foreign militaries, oversee technological changes and manage the Defense Department’s complexity.

Sen. Mark Kelly, an Arizona Democrat, criticized Hegseth’s removal of senior leaders Tuesday, arguing that the military was losing experienced leadership.