Hegseth Orders 20% Cut to US General, Admiral Posts by 2027
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 29
Hegseth Orders 20% Cut to US General, Admiral Posts by 2027
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Sep 29
Summary
About 800 one- to four-star billets are set to be cut or downgraded by Jan. 1, 2027, doubling a 10% reduction ordered last year.
At Quantico, Pete Hegseth cast the move as a purge of "woke" culture and a way to enforce readiness, discipline and "lethality" across the force.
The plan lands after Trump and Hegseth have already removed or pushed out more than two dozen senior military leaders, fueling concerns that dissenting commanders are being sidelined for political loyalty.
Congress caps general and admiral posts at 857, with 848 active-duty officers recorded in September 2025; analysts say fewer headquarters layers could streamline command but also chill candid military advice.
The overhaul comes as Hegseth faces scrutiny over the unpopular Iran war and Pentagon turmoil, with critics warning the cuts could damage morale, leadership pipelines and trigger tougher congressional investigations after November.