Defense Secretary Hegseth to slash senior-most ranks of military
Share this @internewscast.com


WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered a 20% reduction in the number of four-star officers, deepening cuts at the Pentagon that have shaken the Department of Defense at the start of President Donald Trump’s second term in office.

Hegseth has long been vocal about how he views the senior-most ranks of the military as too big.

The former Fox News host has moved with stunning speed to reshape the department, firing top generals and admirals as he seeks to implement Trump’s national security agenda and root out diversity initiatives he calls discriminatory.

In a memo, the contents of which were first reported by Reuters, Hegseth said there will also be a minimum 20 percent reduction in the number of general officers in the National Guard and an additional 10% reduction among general and flag officers across the military.

“More generals and admirals does not lead to more success,” Hegseth said in a video posted on X.

“This is not a slash and burn exercise meant to punish high ranking officers, nothing could be further from the truth,” he said.

He added that he worked with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on this and the goal was “maximizing strategic readiness.”

At his confirmation hearing, he stated there was “an inverse relationship between the size of staffs and victory on the battlefield.”

At the time, he said that there were 44 four-star positions in the military. He has since removed the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Navy’s top admiral and the director of the National Security Agency.

Careful but expeditious cuts

In his video on Monday, Hegseth said the cuts would be done carefully but “expeditiously.”

It was unclear which positions would be cut. The Pentagon has been carrying out a review of its global footprint and Hegseth has been considering whether to merge some combatant commands, which carry out operations in different parts of the world and are led by four-star officers.

Some potential options could include U.S. African Command merging with U.S. European Command, which would reduce one four-star position.

It could also mean combining U.S. Southern Command, in charge of operations in Central and South America, with U.S. Northern Command.

Other four-star positions Hegseth might look at include the head of U.S. Army forces in the Pacific and head of U.S. forces in Korea.

The upheaval at the Pentagon in the last few months has not been limited to uniformed officials.

Three top officials have been fired in recent weeks, triggered by a leak investigation ordered by Hegseth’s chief of staff on March 21.

The dismissed aides include Dan Caldwell, a longtime colleague of Hegseth’s who became one of his most trusted advisors. He was escorted out of the Pentagon last week over leaks for which he denies responsibility. Also dismissed was Hegseth’s deputy chief of staff, Darin Selnick.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Trump Halts Trade Negotiations with Canada Following Reagan Tariff Advertisement

On Thursday, President Trump announced the cessation of trade discussions with Canada,…

Resilient Sacred Heart-Griffin Football Aims for Comeback After Heartbreaking Defeat

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) – As the Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin football team prepares…

Tragic Accident Claims Lives of Illinois Politician Darren Bailey’s Son and Family Members

In a tragic turn of events, former Illinois state senator and Republican…

Experience Coca-Cola Night at the Georgia-Carolina State Fair: Enjoy Thursday Admission for Just $7

AUGUSTA, Ga. – NewsChannel 6’s Brad Means is on the scene at…

DeSantis Champions New Law Integrating Charter Schools into Public School Campuses: A Bold Step for Florida Education

During a recent visit to Sarasota, Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that…

Intel Reports Profits Despite Challenges in Reclaiming Market Share

NEW YORK – Intel has reported a profitable quarter as the company,…

Exclusive: Bodycam Footage Revealing Former NFL Star Jay Cutler’s Arrest Now Public

FRANKLIN, Tenn. (WKRN) – Authorities in Tennessee have unveiled bodycam footage capturing…

Bristol, TN Awarded $48,000 Grant to Enhance Parks and Recreation Planning

BRISTOL, Tenn. (WJHL) — Bristol, Tennessee, is among 18 locales across the…

Explore Universal Orlando’s Exciting New Multi-Day Ticket Options for 2026 Adventures!

Universal Orlando has unveiled an exciting new offering for 2026: multi-day tickets…

Bradenton’s ‘Tech Fairy’ Transforms Old Laptops into New Opportunities

BRADENTON, Fla. (SNN) – For almost ten years, a Bradenton resident has…

Urgent Alert: Virginia Declares State of Emergency Over Imminent SNAP Benefits Crisis

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia has declared a state of emergency on…

Stay Alert: Tropical Storm Melissa Intensifies, Tampa Bay Prepares for Impact

VALRICO, Fla. (WFLA) — The National Hurricane Center has issued a hurricane…