Hegseth says US military has reduced general and admiral ranks by 20%

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that the United States military has reduced its number of generals and admirals by 20%, describing the move as an accountability measure aimed at refocusing the armed forces on warfighting. Speaking to troops at the Quantico military base in Virginia, Hegseth said 10% of generals and admirals had been dismissed and that the number of authorised general-officer positions had been cut by a further 10%. He called the combined reduction “long overdue”.

Hegseth said the changes followed a speech a year earlier in which he argued that the military was too bureaucratic and too focused on what he called “woke” policies. He said officers who supported his approach were now leading formations that were more focused and disciplined, while those who did not support it had left the military. The secretary said the administration was no longer running what he called a “woke” or “weak” department.

His remarks included derogatory language about some groups, while he presented the restructuring as a way to strengthen military readiness. Hegseth ordered cuts in May 2025, including a 10% reduction in the overall number of generals and admirals and a 20% reduction in four-star positions. However, Pentagon figures cited in the report showed 851 active-duty generals and admirals at the end of July 2026, compared with 831 at the end of May 2025.

Since President Donald Trump returned to office, several senior military figures have been removed or have retired, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the heads of the Army, Navy and Coast Guard. Other departures included senior officials linked to the National Security Agency, Air Force, NATO and military legal services. Hegseth has said the president is entitled to choose the leaders he wants.

Democratic lawmakers, however, have expressed concern that the changes could politicise the traditionally neutral US military.