Hegseth Orders 20% Cut in Senior Officer Positions

At his “State of the Force” address at Quantico, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a 20% reduction in authorized U.S. general and admiral positions by Jan. 1, 2027, combining earlier departures with further cuts to senior-officer posts. He framed the cuts as accountability and part of a broader effort to refocus the military on war-fighting, including rolling back diversity programs and reviewing policies on women in combat and testosterone screening. Hegseth announced a new four-star command to oversee autonomous and robotic warfare capabilities, and a study group involving Elon Musk and Newt Gingrich to examine future warfare. His wider plans also include an Office of Religious Affairs and a new military base. Critics questioned the rationale for the cuts and warned that removing senior leaders could harm the military over the long term.