HEGSETH MILITARY CUTS CONTINUE: SENIOR MILITARY LEADERSHIP POSITIONS CUT BY 20%
On Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed Senior Pentagon leadership to cut a number of four-star generals and admirals. Hegseth ordered that there be at least a 20% cut across the military, according to a memo that was signed on Monday. Keep reading to learn more about what the memo contained, and the latest details related to the continued Hegseth military cuts.
Released Memo Directs Pentagon to Cut Top Leadership Positions
The memo that was released on Monday, May 5th, gives the Pentagon directions to cut a number of general officers in the Nation Guard by 20%.
The memo also directed additional cuts to the total number of general and flag officers across the military by 10%.
As it currently stands, there are around 900 general and flag officers with that rank or high in the military.
The additional 10% cuts affects any one-star or above or officer of equivalent Navy rank. The Pete Hegseth military cuts were first reported by CNN.
Recent Memos Call for Significant Changes in the Military
In the May 5th memo, Hegseth wrote that the cuts are a "critical" step forward, as they are a step towards, “removing redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions.”
Currently, the Pentagon is facing increasing pressure to reduce spending as part of the border policy changes implemented by Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
Just last week, Defense Secretary Hegseth released an order to transform the Army, calling for the creation of a “leaner, more lethal force.” Included in this transformation is the merging and/or closing of headquarters, getting rid of outdated vehicles, and cutting close to a thousand headquarters staff in the Pentagon.
In addition to the memo released last week, Hegseth released another memorandum on April 24th, that could change how the U.S. military decides who is medically fit to serve. This memo raised concerns about the number of waivers being granted.
How Many General Officers Are in the Military?
As it stands now, there are around 800 general officers in the military. Around 44 of those are four-star general or flag officers.
The Army currently has the largest number of general officers. The number of general officer positions in the military is set by law.
Trump & Hegseth Military Cuts Continue to Impact Military Officer Positions
On Monday, the released memo directed the active duty military to shed 20% of its four-star general officers. Now, as Hegseth military cuts continue, many are worried about the impact they will have on the force, potentially creating a more polarizing environment.
The most recent round of cuts have come after more than half-dozen top general officers, and several high-ranking female officers, were fired by the Trump Administration earlier this year. During the initial rounds of firing, Hegseth explained that they were, “a reflection of the president wanting the right people around him to execute the national security approach we want to take.”
In the memo released on Monday, Hegseth explained that the firings would help, "Remove redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership.” He said the aim was to free the military from, “unnecessary bureaucratic layers.”
Being that this action is one of the latest taken by Defense Secretary Hegseth, all eyes will continue to watch closely to see what next steps he takes and only time will tell what impact the Hegseth military cuts will have on the US military as a whole.
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