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War Secretary Pete Hegseth will announce plans to reduce the number of positions reserved for generals and admirals by 20 percent during his State of the Forces address Wednesday.
Hegseth approved cutback plans for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Joint Military Pool earlier this month, according to notes seen by Fox News Digital. The services have been tasked with implementing the plans and completing reductions by January 1, 2027.
Wednesday’s speech in Quantico, Virginia, is expected to outline Hegseth’s priorities for the military in the coming year, with reductions in senior leadership positions among the changes he will unveil.
The new goal doubles the overall 10 percent reduction in general and general officer positions ordered by Hegseth last year as part of his effort to streamline the military’s senior ranks. That earlier directive separately called for a 20 percent reduction in active-duty four-star positions and a 20 percent reduction in National Guard general officers.
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Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to senior military officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, September 30, 2025. (Andrew Harnik/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Hegseth characterized the effort as “fewer generals, more GIs,” arguing that reducing senior headquarters positions would push resources and authority toward troops closer to the fight.
The latest cuts apply to positions — positions reserved for generals and admirals — rather than a blanket cut of 20 percent of officers currently serving in those ranks, a War Department source told Fox News Digital.
At least some positions will be downgraded rather than completely eliminated. In a Sept. 16 memo approving reductions to the Army’s common pool, Hegseth directed officials to establish O-6 requirements for general and flag officer positions identified for downgrade, allowing Navy colonels and captains to fill those positions.
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Senior military leaders listen to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaking at Marine Corps Base Quantico September 30, 2025, Virginia. (robynmac)
The announcement comes exactly a year after Hegseth summoned hundreds of generals and admirals from around the world to Quantico, Virginia, for an extraordinary meeting in which he outlined his expectations of top military leaders and warned those who did not support his reforms to stand down.
Hegseth argued that reducing the number of generals and admirals would eliminate unnecessary layers of bureaucracy and push authority down the chain of command.
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“This is not a slash-and-burn exercise intended to punish high-ranking officers,” Hegseth said when he announced the earlier reductions in May 2025. “This is a deliberative process, in collaboration with the Joint Chiefs of Staff with a single goal: to maximize strategic readiness and operational effectiveness by making prudent reductions in the ranks of generals and flag officers.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth trains with his troops a month after announcing new physical requirements for U.S. military personnel. (@DOWResponse/X)
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This year’s audience will be different. Military commands have been asked to send top-performing service members who meet physical fitness and body composition requirements and maintain “impeccable” appearance and uniform standards, according to published reports on the Pentagon’s internal guidelines for the event. Some troops selected to attend are also expected to participate in a training session with Hegseth.
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