Hegseth is expected to outline the changes during his State of the Force address in Quantico, Virginia, on Wednesday. The reductions are due to be implemented by January 1, 2027, according to memos reviewed by Fox News. US War Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce plans to cut by 20 per cent the number of positions designated for generals and admirals across the US military, doubling an earlier reduction target as part of a broader Pentagon restructuring. Hegseth is expected to outline the changes during his State of the Force address in Quantico, Virginia, on Wednesday. The reductions are due to be implemented by January 1, 2027, according to memos reviewed by Fox News. The Army, Navy, Air Force and the military's joint pool were instructed earlier this month to implement the new reductions. Hegseth's latest target doubles the overall 10 per cent cut in general and flag officer positions that he ordered last year. That earlier directive also called for a 20 per cent reduction in active-duty four-star positions and a 20 per cent reduction among National Guard general officers.' The latest plan concerns billets, or positions designated for generals and admirals, rather than requiring 20 per cent of the officers currently holding those ranks to leave the military. Some senior positions will also be downgraded rather than eliminated. In a September 16 memo approving reductions in the military's joint pool, Hegseth directed officials to establish O-6 requirements for positions identified for downgrading. Those roles could then be filled by colonels or Navy captains. Hegseth has previously described his restructuring campaign with the phrase “less generals, more GIs”, arguing that reducing senior headquarters positions would remove layers of bureaucracy and shift resources and authority towards troops. When announcing the earlier cuts in May 2025, Hegseth said the effort was not intended to punish senior officers. “This is not a slash-and-burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers,” Hegseth said, adding that the process was aimed at “maximizing strategic readiness and operational effectiveness” through reductions in general and flag officer ranks. The latest announcement comes almost a year after Hegseth gathered hundreds of generals and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico and outlined his expectations for senior military leadership. The audience at this year's event is expected to be different. Military commands have been asked to send high-performing service members who meet fitness, body-composition, grooming and uniform standards. Some selected personnel are also expected to take part in a workout with Hegseth. The planned reductions form part of Hegseth's broader effort to reshape the Pentagon's senior leadership structure and reduce the number of positions at the highest levels of the military. Working as Copy Editor at the Business Desk of Times Now Digital. Dedicated towards crafting interesting financial stories. Previously covered financi... View More