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unveiled a sweeping transformation plan for the U.S. Army, which includes merging or closing headquarters, eliminating outdated vehicles and aircraft, and cutting up to 1,000 Pentagon staff positions, redirecting resources to operational units.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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Peru has ordered a 30-day suspension of mining activities in the northern district of Pataz, following the kidnapping and killing of 13 gold mine workers by illegal mining gangs, President Dina Boluarte announced on Monday.
A security breach has emerged in the ongoing U.S. government Signal chat scandal, as a cloned version of the Signal app used by Trump administration officials was reportedly hacked in less than 30 minutes, raising further concerns about the handling of sensitive military information.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States would assist civilians in Gaza in obtaining food, as Israel’s aid blockade on the territory enters its 64th day.
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Peru has ordered a 30-day suspension of mining activities in the northern district of Pataz, following the kidnapping and killing of 13 gold mine workers by illegal mining gangs, President Dina Boluarte announced on Monday.
A security breach has emerged in the ongoing U.S. government Signal chat scandal, as a cloned version of the Signal app used by Trump administration officials was reportedly hacked in less than 30 minutes, raising further concerns about the handling of sensitive military information.
Peru has ordered a 30-day suspension of mining activities in the northern district of Pataz, following the kidnapping and killing of 13 gold mine workers by illegal mining gangs, President Dina Boluarte announced on Monday.
A security breach has emerged in the ongoing U.S. government Signal chat scandal, as a cloned version of the Signal app used by Trump administration officials was reportedly hacked in less than 30 minutes, raising further concerns about the handling of sensitive military information.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States would assist civilians in Gaza in obtaining food, as Israel’s aid blockade on the territory enters its 64th day.
The Canadian government has updated its travel advisory for France, warning citizens to exercise a “high degree of caution” due to an elevated threat of terrorism, according to a statement issued on Monday.
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