Hegseth to announce 20% cut in generals, admirals, ends tenure for civilians at military academies
Hegseth will give a speech on Wednesday in front of hundreds of junior officers and enlisted officials, updating them on his priorities for the military.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is scheduled to reveal a 20% reduction in the number of general and admiral positions during a speech at Quantico, Virginia, according to two US officials. Hegseth, who will address hundreds of junior officers and enlisted officials in a speech on Wednesday, plans to increase the cut from the minimum 10% he announced last year.
Instead of dismissing personnel, the ranks of some future roles may be adjusted, while others will see their billets eliminated. Additionally, the Pentagon has released a memo signed by Hegseth that directs the Department of Defense to cease appointing civilians as tenured faculty members at the US Military Service Academies. This decision aims to refocus the academies on warfighting.
Hegseth has been actively reshaping the department, firing senior officers and addressing personnel issues. Last year, he initiated a 20% reduction in four-star officers. This announcement follows Hegseth's criticism of diversity initiatives and his derogatory remarks about "fat generals" during a speech at Quantico last year. Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, and President Donald Trump, a former reality television star, both emphasized the need for military training in US cities, resembling a reality TV format.
Hegseth defended his firings of flag officers, including a Black general and a female Navy admiral, claiming they were part of a dysfunctional culture.
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