U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the military to cut 20% of its four-star generals and flag officers, part of a broader Trump administration effort to streamline defense leadership and reduce what it calls “unnecessary bureaucratic layers.”
In a memo issued Monday, Hegseth also ordered the National Guard to reduce its top leadership positions by the same percentage, while mandating an additional 10% reduction across all general and flag officers — encompassing one-star ranks and above across all service branches.
“These cuts will remove redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership,” Hegseth wrote in the directive.
There are currently around 800 general and flag officers across the U.S. military, including 44 four-star positions. The reduction follows a series of high-profile firings already carried out under Hegseth’s tenure, including the dismissal of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr.. The defense secretary described those moves as aligning military leadership with the Trump administration’s national security vision.
The Pentagon’s leadership overhaul is part of a wider campaign to cut federal spending, championed by both President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The campaign aims to reduce personnel and operational costs across government agencies, with the Department of Defense among its primary targets.
Last week, Hegseth unveiled a sweeping transformation plan for the U.S. Army, which includes merging or closing headquarters, eliminating outdated vehicles and aircraft, and cutting up to 1,000 Pentagon staff positions, redirecting resources to operational units.
Despite these austerity measures, the Army confirmed plans to proceed with a military parade on Trump’s birthday in June, coinciding with the Army’s 250th anniversary. The celebration is expected to cost tens of millions of dollars, drawing scrutiny amid ongoing calls for fiscal restraint.
Hegseth defended the leadership cuts as necessary to build a “leaner, more lethal force” capable of responding swiftly to emerging threats without being bogged down by top-heavy command structures.
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Senior representatives from the U.S., Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye have held talks in Miami to assess progress on the Gaza ceasefire and lay the groundwork for its next phase, according to a statement issued by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
Swedish customs officials have boarded a Russian freighter anchored in Swedish waters after confirming that the vessel and its owners are subject to European Union and U.S. sanctions.
Senior officials and media leaders from Turkic states have met in Ankara to strengthen cooperation against disinformation and deepen coordination in the information sphere.
Japan and five Central Asian nations have unveiled a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening critical minerals supply chains and fostering broader regional cooperation, following their first summit in Tokyo on Saturday.
The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred remains at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, more than three weeks after the blaze began, authorities said on Saturday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet President Donald Trump on 29 December in Florida, where he is expected to present a package of military options regarding Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported on Saturday.
The United States seized a second merchant vessel carrying oil off the coast of Venezuela in international waters on Saturday, as part of Washington’s sanctions enforcement campaign, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
US intelligence assessments indicate that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to seek full control of Ukraine and to expand Russia’s influence in parts of Europe formerly under Soviet rule, contradicting repeated claims that Moscow poses no threat to the continent.
A major power outage swept across San Francisco on Saturday, leaving up to 130,000 customers without electricity, disrupting traffic and forcing some businesses to close temporarily, officials said.
Ukrainian negotiators are scheduled to hold another round of talks with U.S. officials on Sunday to discuss efforts to end the ongoing war with Russia. Top Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov expressed hope for progress, highlighting that discussions have been both "constructive and substantive."
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U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Sunday that the U.S. intelligence community does not believe Russia has the capability to conquer Europe, or even to conquer and occupy Ukraine.
Swedish customs officials have boarded a Russian freighter anchored in Swedish waters after confirming that the vessel and its owners are subject to European Union and U.S. sanctions.
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