War Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to unleash another seismic shakeup across the Pentagon, announcing plans to slash 20% of positions designated for generals and admirals during his upcoming State of the Force address. This bold move doubles down on his relentless drive to trim the top-heavy military bureaucracy and re-focus resources where they truly matter: with America's warfighters.
Memos obtained by Fox News Digital reveal Hegseth’s approval for these significant reduction plans across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the military’s joint pool earlier this month. The services have been directed to fully implement these cuts by January 1, 2027.
This latest directive is not a new direction, but an acceleration of Hegseth's America First vision for a more agile and effective military. It doubles the 10% overall reduction in general and flag officer positions he mandated just last year. That previous order also included specific 20% reductions for active-duty four-star positions and National Guard general officers, clearly signaling a consistent strategy to streamline command.
Hegseth famously coined the mantra "less generals, more GIs" to describe his reform efforts, underscoring his belief that paring down senior headquarters positions will push critical resources and authority closer to the troops on the front lines, enhancing strategic readiness and operational effectiveness.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addresses senior military officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, on Sept. 30, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
A War Department source clarified that these latest reductions target specific billets—positions allocated for generals and admirals—rather than an across-the-board removal of currently serving officers. Furthermore, some of these positions will be judiciously downgraded, not simply eliminated. A September 16 memo detailed instructions to establish O-6 requirements for identified general and flag officer positions slated for downgrade, allowing skilled colonels and Navy captains to step into these crucial roles.
Senior military leaders listen as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Sept. 30, 2025, in Virginia. (robynmac)
This latest announcement echoes Hegseth’s forceful message delivered exactly one year ago at Quantico, Virginia, where he gathered hundreds of generals and admirals from around the globe. There, he unequivocally laid out his expectations for the military’s senior leadership, issuing a stark warning to any who might resist his necessary reforms to step aside.
"This is not a slash-and-burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers," Hegseth affirmed when announcing the 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." It's about efficiency, not animosity.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth exercises with troops one month after announcing new physical requirements for U.S. military personnel. (@DOWResponse/X)
The upcoming State of the Force address will also feature a notably different audience. Military commands have been instructed to send only top-performing service members who exemplify stringent fitness, body-composition, grooming, and uniform standards. Some of these selected troops are even expected to participate in a workout alongside Hegseth himself—a clear visual testament to his commitment to a lean, fit, and combat-ready force, truly embodying the "America First" principles of strength and accountability.
