Hegseth plans 20 percent cut to senior military ranks

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will announce on Wednesday plans to cut 20 percent of flag and general officer slots, officials said, a step that will shrink senior military ranks.

Quantico address Wednesday

Officials said the reductions will be formalized in his State of the Force address at Quantico on September 30, 2026. At confirmation there were 10 active-duty four-star generals; officials said that figure has fallen to five since he took office.

Officials said Hegseth ordered a prior personnel directive in May to reduce active-duty general and flag officers by about 10 percent and to cut National Guard general-officer ranks by at least 20 percent. Critics say the package lacks implementation guidance for which billets would be eliminated.

Critics and some lawmakers have raised concerns about readiness, alleging concealed casualties, depleted munitions and hazardous conditions on long-deployed ships; those claims remain contested, officials said. House leaders said they paused a recent voting session; lawmakers said an impeachment vote is expected after the midterm elections.

Watch for Hegseth’s address on September 30, 2026, when he is expected to set the timeline for personnel reductions and for lawmakers to make formal oversight requests, officials said.