US Cuts Top Generals to Strengthen Military Readiness

Post by: Layla Badr

Photo: Reuters

Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of Defense, has announced a big decision to reduce the number of high-ranking officers in the US military. This move is part of a plan to make the military more efficient and focused.

In an official note on Monday, Hegseth said that the number of four-star generals and admirals—who are the most senior officers—will be cut by 20%. He also ordered a 10% cut in all general and flag officers across the military. Additionally, the number of generals in the National Guard will also be reduced by 20%.

As of March 31, 2025, the US military had 38 four-star generals or admirals, based on data from the Department of Defense.

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Hegseth explained this change in a video titled “Less Generals, More GIs Policy.” He said that today, the US military has one general for every 1,400 soldiers, while during World War II, there was only one general for every 6,000 troops. He believes that having more generals doesn't always lead to better results.

“Having more generals and admirals doesn’t mean we’ll be more successful,” Hegseth said in the video posted on X.

He added, “This isn’t about punishing senior officers or cutting just for the sake of cutting. We thought through this carefully with help from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The goal is to improve our military's readiness and strength by making smart reductions where needed.”

He didn’t say which specific jobs or positions would be removed.

The group of nearly 40 four-star generals includes important leaders like the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Chief of Staff of the Army, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. It also includes commanders of important areas like US Africa Command, US European Command, and US Forces Korea.

This decision is part of a wider effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to make the federal government smaller and remove people they see as political opponents. Since Trump returned to the White House in January, he and his team have removed several top military officials. These include Charles Q. Brown, who was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Navy leader Admiral Lisa Franchetti.

This move shows a big shift in how the US military will be run, focusing more on active troops than high-level officers.

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