US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has announced sweeping reforms to the leadership of the armed forces, with a 20 percent reduction in the number of generals and admirals. Hegseth described the measure as part of a broader reorganization aimed at strengthening accountability within military command.
Pentagon Targets Fewer Senior Commanders
Hegseth made the announcement during a speech at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia. He emphasized that the US military should focus less on bureaucracy and more on combat readiness.
This new move builds on an earlier 2025 plan, which had already ordered a ten percent cut in the number of generals and admirals. The current reduction extends that target to a full 20 percent.
The change does not mean that one in five senior officers will be immediately dismissed. Rather, a significant part of the reform involves reorganizing positions and altering the overall command structure.
Number of Senior Officers Hasn’t Fallen Yet
The announcement also highlighted a discrepancy between the stated goal and the current data.
According to Pentagon records, there were 851 active generals and admirals at the end of July 2026, while at the end of May 2025, the number was 831. So rather than decreasing, the number has actually grown in that period.
The SITA news agency pointed out that the available numbers do not yet confirm the promised 20 percent cut. The Pentagon has not commented on whether the process has been completed or is still underway, according to reports.
Hegseth Stresses Accountability
The Defense Secretary rejected any interpretation suggesting the reduction is a political purge. He insisted that the move is about holding senior commanders more accountable for the performance of the armed forces.
Hegseth also acknowledged that some officers who did not support his vision for the military’s future are no longer serving—this, he said, explains some of the personnel changes.
Democratic members of Congress have voiced concerns about the potential politicization of the military. Their criticism highlights political pushback against the administration but does not amount to independently confirmed explanations for individual personnel decisions.
Top Leadership Changes
Following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, several high-ranking officers were dismissed from the leadership of the US armed forces.
One of those removed was Charles Brown, who served as chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The shake-up at the top level of command continues alongside the planned reduction in general and admiral billets.
Aktualizovane.sk continues to report on ongoing developments in US military presence and security policy.
Pentagon Reshapes Military Command
The reduction in senior ranks is only one facet of broader reforms. The Pentagon is also restructuring command and responding to new technologies shaping modern warfare.
Special emphasis is being placed on unmanned and autonomous systems, which are transforming the conduct of military operations. Alongside personnel changes, the United States is investing heavily in advanced military technologies.
US military presence is also shifting globally. For instance, the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and its potential security implications are currently under discussion.
Congress May Influence the Changes
The scale of the reduction ultimately depends on how the Pentagon reorganizes specific positions and which posts are actually eliminated.
Federal regulations also set the maximum number of high-ranking billets, so the number of abolished positions does not directly translate to immediate dismissals of generals and admirals.
According to available information, the planned reductions are expected to be completed by the beginning of 2027.
What the General Reduction Means
The real impact of these changes will become clear only after implementation. Key questions remain as to which command positions will disappear, how the organizational structure will be modified, and whether reducing the number of senior officers will affect the performance of military branches.
Hegseth has presented the measure as a bid to simplify the chain of command and boost accountability. Critics, however, warn about the potential risks of such sweeping personnel changes at the top of the military.
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This article was translated from the original Slovak version with the assistance of AI.
