WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a directive on Monday for the active duty military to reduce its number of four-star general officers by 20% as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to streamline leadership roles. Hegseth also instructed the National Guard to cut 20% of its top positions. In a memo dated Monday, Hegseth explained that these cuts are intended to eliminate redundant force structure and enhance leadership efficiency. In addition to the reductions in four-star generals, the military has been tasked with reducing its general and flag officers by an extra 10% across all branches, potentially affecting officers with a rank of one-star or higher, or the equivalent in the Navy. Hegseth emphasized that these measures are meant to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic layers within the military. CNN was the first to report on these planned reductions.
