WATCH LIVE: Hegseth delivers State of the Force address, expected to make cuts to top ranks

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to announce the termination of approximately 20% of admirals and generals from the US Armed Forces, according to US media. The announcement is anticipated on Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, following an earlier round of personnel cuts in 2025. There are over 800 active-duty generals and admirals serving in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force, as per the most recent defence department tally.

Hegseth's anticipated firings are part of a broader overhaul of the US military under his leadership, aiming to instill a "war fighter ethos" within the defence department. This rebranding of the department as the Department of War has already led to the termination or resignation of at least 20 generals, admirals, and civilian military leaders since Hegseth assumed his role.

Federal law allows for the replacement of unfilled positions, but there is no mandate for it. Civil rights groups, such as the NAACP and the National Women’s Law Center, have accused Hegseth of obstructing the military promotions of black individuals and women. Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, criticized Hegseth for purging the upper echelon of the military.

The CRS report from May highlights potential downsides of having too many senior leaders, including increased costs and potential slowdowns in decision-making processes. Hegseth's decisions coincide with the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has strained the US's ammunition supplies.