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unveiled a sweeping transformation plan for the U.S. Army, which includes merging or closing headquarters, eliminating outdated vehicles and aircraft, and cutting up to 1,000 Pentagon staff positions, redirecting resources to operational units.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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U.S. stock markets closed higher on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq leading gains after tech giants – particularly Apple – saw strong advances.
Tech giant Google has announced a $1 billion investment to support artificial intelligence (AI) education and research at universities across the United States.
Global financial markets are trading mixed today amid US President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on drug and semiconductor imports, coupled with weak service sector data impacting investor risk appetite.
In the southern Aude region, France is currently battling the country’s largest wildfire in 80 years. The blaze is spreading rapidly, covering an area larger than Paris.
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Washington now has a clearer picture of the conditions under which Russia may be willing to end its war in Ukraine.
In the southern Aude region, France is currently battling the country’s largest wildfire in 80 years. The blaze is spreading rapidly, covering an area larger than Paris.
Residents and visitors in Chicago have been experiencing unusual haze and poor air quality recently, as the city grapples with a combination of smoke from over 700 wildfires raging in Canada and elevated ozone levels.
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