Hegseth to announce a 20% cut to generals and admirals
September 29, 2026 / 7:24 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to cut the number of U.S. generals and admirals by 20%.
- The announcement will be made during an address at Marine Corps Base Quantico.
- Previous cuts ordered in May 2025 targeted at least 10% of flag and general officers.
- Hegseth argues these reductions are necessary to eliminate bureaucratic layers and enhance operational effectiveness.
- As of July, there were 851 active-duty generals and admirals, with the federal law capping the number at 857.
- The speech follows Hegseth's past criticism of 'woke' standards and 'toxic leaders' in the military.
- At least 20 senior military leaders have been fired or resigned since Hegseth took office.
- There is ongoing debate about the necessity and impact of having a large number of top-ranking officers.