Hegseth orders 20% reduction of four star generals and admirals

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth connected Monday ordered a minimum 20% simplification of four-star generals and admirals crossed the military, helium said successful a memo addressed to elder Pentagon leadership.

He besides ordered astatine slightest 20% of wide officers successful the National Guard and 10% of each emblem and wide officers to beryllium cut. In the one-page memo, which was posted connected the Defense Department's website, Hegseth said that to "drive innovation and operational excellence, the subject indispensable beryllium "unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that hinder their maturation and effectiveness," and portion of achieving this "is removing redundant unit operation to optimize and streamline enactment by reducing excess wide and emblem serviceman positions."

Hegseth announced the memo successful a video connected X, vowing, "We're going to displacement resources from bloated office elements to our warfighters." 

He did not springiness a timeline for the cuts but said they would beryllium carried retired "expeditiously."

There are presently 38 four-star generals oregon admirals, arsenic of March 31, 2025, according to Defense Department data. CNN first reported Hegseth's memo. 

Hegseth has raised questions astir the fig of apical subject officers successful the past. 

"We won World War II with 7 four-star generals. Today we person 44," Hegseth said astatine a town hall astatine the Pentagon successful February. "Do each of those straight lend to warfighting success? Maybe they bash — I don't cognize — but it's worthy reviewing to marque definite they do."

Eleanor Watson

Eleanor Watson is simply a CBS News multi-platform newsman and shaper covering the Pentagon.

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