Washington (TDI): US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a 20 percent reduction in the number of generals and admirals across the US military, describing the move as part of an effort to increase accountability and refocus the armed forces on war-fighting.
Speaking at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Wednesday, Hegseth said 10 percent of generals and admirals had been removed while the number of general officer positions had been reduced by another 10 percent. The announcement came during his second annual “State of the Force” address, where he outlined a broader restructuring of the US military.
Hegseth said the changes were intended to move the Pentagon away from policies he associates with previous administrations and toward what he described as a stronger “warrior ethos.” He argued that officers who supported his earlier reform agenda were now leading military formations, while those who did not support it had left the department.
The Pentagon chief has previously ordered reductions in senior military positions, including a 10 percent cut announced in 2025. The latest measures effectively double the targeted reduction in general and flag officer positions. General and flag officers account for less than 1 percent of the US military, with Congressional Research Service data putting the number of general officer positions at about 850 in 2023.
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Hegseth also announced plans for a new four-star Autonomous Warfare Command, which is intended to accelerate the development and deployment of autonomous and robotic systems across the US military.
The proposed command would oversee areas including drones, artificial intelligence and autonomous command-and-control systems. Hegseth said the initiative reflects the growing importance of unmanned technology in modern warfare and is expected to be established by October 2027, subject to the required congressional process.
Separately, Hegseth announced Project Meridian, a 120-day study examining the future of warfare and the military capabilities needed for emerging battlefields. Tech billionaire Elon Musk will co-lead the project alongside Palmer Luckey, founder of defense technology company Anduril Industries, and former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Hegseth said the initiative would bring together technology experts, military leaders and innovators to identify future defense requirements.
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Musk previously served in the Trump administration through the Department of Government Efficiency, where he was involved in a major federal cost-cutting program before leaving the government in 2025. His return to an official advisory role comes as his companies maintain significant links with the Pentagon.
SpaceX, one of Musk’s companies, is involved in providing satellite-based communications and other capabilities to the US government, while Anduril is a major defence technology contractor.
Hegseth also unveiled initiatives aimed at strengthening the resilience of US military installations, including plans to improve their ability to operate independently of civilian power grids, as well as proposals for a new military base.
The latest announcements mark a significant expansion of Hegseth’s effort to restructure the Pentagon around senior leadership reductions, autonomous warfare, technological innovation and changes to military culture.
