Trump defense secretary cuts 20% of four-star generals in Pentagon shake-up

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders massive reduction in top military ranks to align Pentagon with Trump’s national security goals.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attends an event at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Harrison Township, Michigan, on April 29, 2025. Photo by Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

In a dramatic escalation of efforts to streamline the U.S. military command structure, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Monday a 20% reduction in the number of four-star generals and admirals, a bold move that has sent shockwaves through the Pentagon. The decision comes amid President Donald Trump’s second term in office and reflects his administration’s intensified push to reshape the Department of Defense from the top down.

The directive, first detailed in an internal memo obtained by Reuters, represents the most significant reorganization of the senior military ranks in decades. According to the document, Hegseth has also mandated at least a 20% cut in general officers within the National Guard, as well as an additional 10% reduction across all branches of the military among general and flag officers.

Speaking in a video message posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, Hegseth declared, "More generals and admirals does not lead to more success," emphasizing that the initiative was about increasing strategic readiness, not penalizing leadership. “This is not a slash-and-burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers,” he said. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Rapid shift under Hegseth’s leadership

Hegseth, a former Fox News host and long-time critic of what he has described as “bureaucratic bloat” within the military, has wasted no time in executing President Trump’s vision. Since taking over as defense secretary, he has removed several prominent officials, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the top admiral of the U.S. Navy, and the director of the National Security Agency.

Critics argue the pace of the removals and restructuring is destabilizing. Still, Hegseth has maintained that his actions are rooted in the need to reestablish clarity in military command and strip away what he calls inefficient layers of leadership.

At his Senate confirmation hearing, Hegseth cited an “inverse relationship between the size of staffs and victory on the battlefield,” suggesting that fewer high-ranking officers would lead to more decisive and effective military operations. At that time, the Department of Defense had 44 four-star positions, a number he vowed to shrink.

Political opposition grows

Not everyone agrees with Hegseth’s sweeping changes. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed concern over the potential damage the cuts could inflict on military readiness.

“I have always advocated for efficiency at the Department of Defense,” Reed said, “but tough personnel decisions should be based on facts and analysis, not arbitrary percentages.” He warned that removing experienced and skilled officers could do more harm than good. “Eliminating the positions of many of our most skilled and experienced officers without sound justification would not create ‘efficiency’ in the military—it could cripple it,” he added.

Strategic consolidation on the horizon

Although the precise positions to be eliminated have not been disclosed, defense analysts suggest that Hegseth is eyeing a strategic consolidation of America’s global command structure. The Pentagon has already launched a comprehensive review of its combatant commands, and proposals are reportedly being drafted to merge several of them.

One potential merger under consideration is the unification of U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) with U.S. European Command (EUCOM). Another possible realignment could combine U.S. Southern Command, responsible for Latin America, with U.S. Northern Command, which oversees homeland defense. Each of these commands is headed by a four-star general, meaning any mergers would reduce the number of top-ranking officers.

Further changes may target roles such as the head of U.S. Army Pacific and the commander of U.S. forces in Korea—both high-profile four-star commands that could be consolidated or reorganized under the new structure.

Internal turmoil and firings add to Pentagon uncertainty

The restructuring of senior military roles is just one facet of the broader upheaval currently roiling the Pentagon. In recent weeks, three top civilian officials were fired in connection to a leak investigation launched by Hegseth’s chief of staff on March 21.

Among those dismissed was Dan Caldwell, a long-time ally of Hegseth’s who had become one of his most influential advisers. Caldwell was escorted out of the Pentagon last week, though he denies responsibility for the leaks. Also removed from their posts were Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick and another unnamed aide, further illustrating the sweeping house-cleaning underway.

While Hegseth has not publicly commented on the leak investigation, aides close to him describe the atmosphere as “intensely focused” and committed to rooting out disloyalty and internal resistance to the administration’s agenda. 

Hegseth’s reforms are not limited to structural and leadership changes. He has also aggressively pursued the removal of what he calls “divisive” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within the military. These programs, established in previous administrations, have come under scrutiny for allegedly fostering division rather than unity within the ranks.

Although specific DEI offices or staff reductions have not yet been officially announced, internal sources suggest further guidance is forthcoming. The cuts to top military ranks, they say, are just the beginning of a broader ideological transformation of the armed forces.

Trump’s vision for a leaner Pentagon

President Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with the size and complexity of the U.S. military bureaucracy. In campaign speeches and interviews, he has pledged to “drain the swamp” within the defense establishment and shift focus toward mission-driven efficiency and warfighting capacity.

The decision to empower Hegseth—a loyalist and ideological ally—to carry out this transformation reflects the president’s continued desire to confront what he sees as entrenched resistance within the Pentagon. In his view, reducing the number of four-star generals and admirals is essential to bringing the armed forces in line with the administration’s goals.

While the Trump defense secretary cuts 20% of four-star generals, the long-term impact of this unprecedented shake-up remains uncertain. Supporters argue it will eliminate layers of bureaucracy and improve strategic agility. Critics fear it could diminish morale, reduce institutional knowledge, and create dangerous power vacuums at a time of growing global instability.

In either case, Pete Hegseth’s tenure as secretary of defense is likely to be remembered as one of the most consequential in recent history. His actions mark a clear pivot in how America’s military is structured and led, and they offer a glimpse into the future of U.S. defense policy under Trump’s second term.