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US Defence Secretary Plans 20% Cut to Military Leadership Posts

Pete Hegseth, the newly appointed US Defence Secretary, is set to announce sweeping reductions to senior military positions held by generals and admirals. The restructuring plan will be unveiled during an address at a major Marine Corps facility.

LSN India · 30 September 2026

Pete Hegseth, serving as US Defence Secretary, plans to reduce the number of positions reserved for generals and admirals by 20 per cent, marking a significant overhaul of the Pentagon's senior leadership structure. The announcement will be made during Hegseth's "State of the Force" address scheduled for Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, signalling a major shift in how the US military organises its command hierarchy. The proposal reflects broader efforts within the defence establishment to streamline operations and reduce administrative overhead within the armed forces. Such cuts to flag officer positions could reshape career progression pathways for military personnel and alter the distribution of command responsibilities across the services. The move comes as defence officials continue to assess operational efficiency and budget priorities within the Pentagon, with implications for force structure and senior leadership deployment across the US military branches.