WASHINGTON — On Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced significant reductions in the number of high-ranking military officers, ordering the active duty forces to cut 20% of its four-star general officers. This directive comes as part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to implement deep reductions aimed at improving efficiency, though some critics are raising concerns about potential ramifications, such as the risk of increased politicization within the military.
Hegseth also instructed the National Guard to similarly reduce its top positions by 20% and mandated a further 10% reduction in general and flag officers across the entire force. This order affects officers of one-star rank or higher, including their Navy equivalents.
The latest directive follows an already substantial number of dismissals, with more than a half-dozen general officers having been fired by Hegseth or President Donald Trump since January. These dismissals included Gen. CQ Brown Jr., former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as well as the removal of the only two women in four-star positions, and a disproportionately high number of senior female officers.
Previously, Hegseth had justified these firings by stating they were in line with the president’s desire to ensure only those who align with the national security strategy are in positions of high authority. As the head of the Pentagon, Hegseth has been vocal about his intent to eliminate programs and leadership initiatives that advocate for diversity within the ranks. He has also made moves to remove transgender individuals from service and instigate sweeping reforms to standardize fitness criteria for combat roles.
In a memorandum released on Monday, Hegseth explained that the reductions would eliminate “redundant force structure” and streamline military leadership, thus removing “unnecessary bureaucratic layers.”
Congressman Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat and Marine Corps veteran, expressed concerns about Hegseth’s motivations, suggesting the defense secretary is attempting to politicize the military. “He’s establishing a system to eliminate generals who disagree with him and the president,” Moulton stated. “It’s important to seek efficiency, but Hegseth’s intentions are clear, as he has extensively documented them. The context here points to militarization serving political ends.”
Moulton stressed the importance of ensuring that orders to troops are constitutionally sound rather than politically driven, cautioning that failure to do so threatens democratic principles by aligning the military with partisan interests.
In recent weeks, Hegseth has also dismissed or reassigned several close advisers, effectively narrowing his core team. This has prompted inquiries from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers concerning his management of sensitive information and communication practices, especially his use of the Signal messaging application.
The U.S. military has approximately 800 general officers, with only 44 holding four-star rank. The Army accounts for the majority of these positions, including eight four-star generals. The number of these roles is determined by law, and the recent cuts were communicated to Congress through a brief notification, rather than the standard prior advice.
The reductions are part of the larger push by Trump and his administration to cut federal spending and shrink personnel, backed by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. Last week, Hegseth ordered comprehensive changes within the Army to “create a leaner, more lethal force,” which involves consolidating headquarters, decommissioning obsolete equipment, reducing Pentagon staff by as many as 1,000, and redirecting resources to field units.
Additionally, the Army recently confirmed plans to host a military parade in honor of President Trump’s birthday in June, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the service. The event, officials note, is projected to cost tens of millions of dollars.