HEGSETH MILITARY CUTS WILL IMPACT 20% OF SENIOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS & 120 HIGH-RANKING OFFICERS
On Monday May 5th, 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 earlier this month. Now, it has been revealed that Hegseth's cuts will impact more than 120 high-ranking officer jobs, including nine top general positions. 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%.
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.
It is predicted that the cuts are going to affect dozens of active duty officers across all branches of the military, as well as those who are in joint command jobs. The cuts will also impact positions overseeing Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.
The proposed changes will eliminate 33 senior positions in the National Guard.
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.
In late April, 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 Included in this transformation is the merging and/or closing of headquarters, getting rid of outdated vehicles, and cutting close to a thousand headquarters staff in the Pentagon.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 in early May, 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 500+ general officers in the military. Around 44 of those are four-star general or flag officers.
Congress stipulates the max number of high-ranking general officers that are allowed in the services. This includes:
- 219 in the Army
- 171 in the Air Force
- 21 in the Space Force
- 64 in the Marine Corps
- 150 in the Navy
The Army currently has the largest number of general officers. The number of general officer positions in the military is set by law.
Combined, all branches can't have more that 27 four-star generals, 153 three-star generals, 239 two-star generals, and 210 one-star generals.
Trump & Hegseth Military Cuts Continue to Impact Military Officer Positions
On May 5th, 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, 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.”
How Will the Cuts Impact Military Services?
Hegseth's cuts are expected to impact all branches in some manner. The Army is allowed to have a maximum of 219 high-ranking general officers. Thus, this branch is predicted to experience the highest number of cuts. Army leaders have developed various plans to merge headquarters units and staff. As a result, 40 general officer positions could be cut.
The Marine Corps and the Space Force only have two four-star generals, and thus will likely see less of an impact directly.
When asked about how the cuts will impact the Marine Corps Lt. Col. Josh Benson, a Marine spokesman said, "The Marine Corps, with our general officers, like our civilians and senior executives, is by far the leanest service."
He continued explaining, "Due to the already lean nature of the general officers in the Marine Corps, any cuts to Marine general officers will have an outsized impact to the Corps relative to other services."
As military cuts continue, all eyes will be watching closely to see what steps are taken next, and the impact the Hegseth military cuts will have on the US military as a whole.
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