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Pentagon to cut 20% of general and admiral positions by Jan. 1
Federal News Network • • nation
Key Points:
- The Pentagon is proceeding with a directive to cut 20% of general and admiral positions by January 1, reducing approximately 170 active-duty senior officers across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and joint roles.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has criticized the military as top-heavy, approved the plan to streamline the senior officer corps and will announce details in his upcoming State of the Force address.
- Some general and admiral billets will be eliminated or downgraded to be filled by colonels or Navy captains, potentially requiring regulatory and legal changes regarding rank requirements for certain positions.
- Critics, including Sen. Jack Reed, warn that the cuts could remove valuable experience and disrupt command continuity during ongoing global operations, urging Hegseth to justify the reductions to Congress before implementation.
- Since January 2025, Hegseth has already fired or blocked promotions for over 80 generals and admirals as part of his effort to reduce senior leadership ranks in the military.
