U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced plans to reduce the number of generals and admirals across the U.S. military by 20%, describing the move as part of an effort to make the armed forces more focused on combat readiness.
Hegseth made the announcement Wednesday during his “State of the Force” address to junior officers and enlisted leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The speech marked the second consecutive year he has addressed troops there.
Hegseth said the military had already reduced the number of general and flag officer positions by 10% and that he was ordering an additional 10% reduction. He described the combined 20% reduction as “accountability, and long overdue.”
The cuts are expected to be completed by Jan. 1, 2027. The Pentagon had previously announced a 10% reduction in senior officer positions, while Hegseth also ordered reductions affecting four-star officers and National Guard leadership.
Hegseth linked the changes to his broader effort to reshape the U.S. military around what he calls war-fighting and combat effectiveness. He has repeatedly criticised what he describes as “woke” policies in the military and said officers who supported his approach were now leading what he described as more focused and disciplined formations.
He also used highly charged language to describe the cultural changes he wants to see in the military, saying the armed forces should no longer be what he called the “woke department” or the “weak department.”
The restructuring comes amid concerns from some U.S. lawmakers and military observers about the scale of changes to senior military leadership. Critics have described the removal and reduction of senior officers as a purge, while Hegseth has characterised the changes as accountability and an effort to streamline the military.
Hegseth also announced plans for a new four-star command focused on autonomous and robotic warfare, including drones, artificial intelligence and related command-and-control systems.
The Pentagon says the new command will accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous capabilities across the U.S. military.
Hegseth also announced Project Meridian, an initiative to study the future of warfare and identify technologies and capabilities the U.S. military may need for future conflicts.
The project will be led by Pentagon technology official Emil Michael and co-directed by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey and former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Hegseth said the project would bring together private-sector leaders and other experts to examine emerging military technologies, with its findings expected within 120 days.
The announcement is part of a wider effort by Hegseth to reorganise the Pentagon, including changes to senior leadership, military culture and the development of autonomous weapons and other emerging technologies.
Comments
Add a comment