Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday
directed a minimum 20% reduction of four-star positions across the active-component
military. He also told the National Guard Bureau to cut at least 20% of its general
officers and ordered the elimination of another 10% general and flag officer billets
across the entire military. “We must cultivate exceptional senior leaders who drive
innovation and operational excellence, unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic
layers that hinder their growth and effectiveness,” Hegseth said in a memo. The
document is available at
https://media.defense.gov/2025/May/05/2003704210/-1/-
1/1/MEMORANDUM-DIRECTING-GENERAL-AND-FLAG-OFFICER-
REDUCTIONS.PDF
directed a minimum 20% reduction of four-star positions across the active-component
military. He also told the National Guard Bureau to cut at least 20% of its general
officers and ordered the elimination of another 10% general and flag officer billets
across the entire military. “We must cultivate exceptional senior leaders who drive
innovation and operational excellence, unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic
layers that hinder their growth and effectiveness,” Hegseth said in a memo. The
document is available at
https://media.defense.gov/2025/May/05/2003704210/-1/-
1/1/MEMORANDUM-DIRECTING-GENERAL-AND-FLAG-OFFICER-
REDUCTIONS.PDF