Hegseth Orders Major Pentagon Shakeup, Cuts Top Military Brass/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a sweeping 20% cut in four-star military officers, reshaping the Pentagon’s senior leadership under President Trump’s second term.
Hegseth’s Pentagon Shake-Up – Quick Looks
- Massive Reductions: 20% cut in four-star generals and admirals; additional cuts in National Guard and senior officers
- Restructuring Commands: Mergers of major commands under review to eliminate top-level roles
- Political Controversy: Critics accuse Hegseth of arbitrary firings and undermining military experience
- Internal Fallout: Recent dismissals of top aides, including a trusted advisor, over a leak investigation
- Trump Doctrine: Part of broader push to streamline leadership and dismantle diversity and bureaucracy
- Readiness Rationale: Hegseth frames move as essential to restoring “strategic readiness”
Hegseth Orders Major Pentagon Shakeup, Cuts Top Military Brass
Deep Look
WASHINGTON – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered a 20% reduction in the number of four-star military officers, deepening the Trump administration’s dramatic reshaping of the Pentagon’s leadership structure and sending shockwaves through the armed forces.
Hegseth, a former Fox News host and longtime critic of Pentagon bureaucracy, made the announcement in a memo obtained by Reuters. The directive marks one of the boldest moves yet in the Trump administration’s second-term agenda to streamline military leadership, cut perceived inefficiencies, and prioritize what it calls “strategic readiness.”
“More generals and admirals does not lead to more success,” Hegseth said in a video posted to social media platform X. “This is not a slash-and-burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers — nothing could be further from the truth.”
The plan calls for a 20% cut to the number of general officers in the National Guard and an additional 10% reduction in flag officers across all service branches. Hegseth said the cuts are being developed in consultation with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and framed the effort as one of reform, not retaliation.
Targeted Reductions and Command Mergers
While no official list of impacted positions has been released, speculation has mounted around potential mergers of major combatant commands, each led by a four-star officer. Among the options being explored:
- U.S. Africa Command merging with European Command
- U.S. Southern Command consolidating with Northern Command
- Possible elimination or reassignment of the commanders of U.S. Army Pacific and U.S. Forces Korea
The Pentagon is currently undergoing a broad review of its global structure, and Hegseth has suggested a “leaner, more agile” command system is key to both deterrence and cost efficiency.
Blowback from Capitol Hill
The cuts drew swift criticism from top Democrats, including Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who called the move dangerously arbitrary.
“Tough personnel decisions should be based on facts and analysis, not arbitrary percentages,” Reed said. “Eliminating many of our most skilled and experienced officers without sound justification could cripple our armed forces, not improve them.”
Hegseth, however, insists the plan is based on a belief that bloated headquarters staffs and top-heavy command structures have weakened the military’s battlefield effectiveness.
At his confirmation hearing earlier this year, Hegseth said:
“There is an inverse relationship between the size of staffs and victory in war.”
Internal Turmoil and Firings
Beyond structural cuts, the Pentagon has faced internal turmoil in recent weeks. On March 21, Hegseth’s chief of staff ordered a leak investigation that led to the dismissal of three top civilian officials, including:
- Dan Caldwell, a longtime Hegseth ally and former senior advisor
- Darin Selnick, deputy chief of staff
- An undisclosed third aide, all reportedly fired over alleged unauthorized disclosures
Caldwell has denied involvement in any leaks and was escorted out of the Pentagon last week, a rare move that underscored the depth of internal friction under Hegseth’s leadership.
Strategic or Symbolic?
The reorganization has raised questions among analysts about whether the changes will achieve the stated goals of improving readiness or instead weaken continuity, leadership depth, and institutional memory.
Critics argue that gutting experienced leadership in the name of reform could leave the U.S. military less equipped to respond to complex global threats. Others view the move as part of a wider ideological push from Trump and Hegseth to target what they perceive as a “woke military” and return to a more hierarchical, combat-focused doctrine.
Supporters counter that the current system is bloated, expensive, and overdue for transformation.
What’s Next?
Hegseth has pledged that the cuts will be carried out “carefully but expeditiously.” His office has not confirmed a timeline, but the memo suggests initial moves could begin within weeks. The broader review of U.S. military footprint and potential command mergers may take months.
What’s clear is that the Pentagon under Hegseth is undergoing its most significant personnel reshuffling in decades, with ripple effects across both policy and morale.
“Change is never easy,” Hegseth said. “But this is the mission — and we will get it done.”
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