Hegseth to announce 20% cut to general, admiral positions

Doubles the 10% reduction Hegseth ordered in May 2025

Hegseth is expected to lay out his priorities for the Pentagon in the coming year during the Wednesday address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, which officials are referring to as his “State of the Force” speech. Fox News first reported the planned cuts.

In May 2025, Hegseth directed the original reductions to senior ranks, instructing Pentagon leadership to cut the total number of four-star active-duty general officers by at least 20% in addition to reducing the overall number of flag officers — admirals and generals with a one-star rank or above — by 10%. In a memo that month, he framed the cuts as overdue streamlining, calling for “removing redundant force structure.”

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

As of Sept. 30, 2023, there were 809 active-duty flag officers, 48 below the maximum of 857, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Hegseth has long been vocal about his view that the military’s senior ranks are too big, The Wall Street Journal reported. The Wednesday speech comes roughly a year after Hegseth summoned the nation’s leading military officers to gather at Quantico at short notice. During that appearance, he declared that he wanted to see “no more beardos” or “fat generals.” President Trump also spoke at last year’s event.

This time, the audience will include lower-ranking officers and enlisted servicemembers who have been handpicked by their commanders. The Pentagon earlier this month asked commanders to nominate troops to attend the address who meet waist-to-height requirements and exhibit “impeccable” grooming standards.

The servicemembers chosen will also be selected based on “demonstrated leadership quality and professional character,” and will receive a Pentagon tour and the opportunity to work out with the defense secretary, according to emails reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Since becoming Pentagon chief last year, Hegseth has prioritized physical and grooming standards among the ranks, which he says is critical to the military’s ability to fight wars effectively. Some critics have characterized his focus as too narrow, at the expense of modernization, and warned against using troops to advance the administration’s political agenda.