Hegseth to Cut 20% of Pentagon General and Admiral Positions in Leadership Overhaul

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce, in a Sept. 30, 2026, address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, a plan to cut 20% of the Pentagon's general and admiral positions across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force, two Pentagon officials confirmed. The reductions double a 10% cut Hegseth ordered in 2025 and apply to senior-leadership billets rather than officers currently serving; some positions will be downgraded rather than eliminated. Services must complete the cuts by Jan. 1, 2027.

The move follows more than two dozen firings or forced departures of military leaders under Hegseth, drawing bipartisan concern in Congress. Sen. Susan Collins called the removals "deeply troubling," and Rep. Austin Scott said firing the Army's former chief of staff created a "chilling effect" on the armed services. Hegseth says the cuts remove "redundant force structure" and shift resources to "warfighters."

The cuts are confirmed by officials but not yet formally announced by Hegseth himself; he is expected to detail them Wednesday.