Cutting 20% of general and admiral posts after firing dozens of top officers

What happened

More than a dozen generals and admirals have been fired since Trump returned, including nearly all of the Joint Chiefs appointed under Biden, and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned this month after repeated clashes with Hegseth. Critics, including Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, worry about politicizing the military and losing a generation of experienced leaders. Hegseth formally announced the cut in a Sept. 30 address that NPR described as partisan, blaming past generals and defense secretaries by name, and named Elon Musk to co-lead a new 'future of warfare' effort. The cut covers about 170 of roughly 800 positions. Senators who focus on defense gave the plan a cool reception, The Hill reported: the Armed Services Committee's Republican chairman, Roger Wicker, did not give reporters a direct answer, Democrat Richard Blumenthal said Hegseth is obligated to come to Congress first, and Reed said the size of the senior officer corps is a matter in which Congress has a fundamental role. The number of general and admiral positions is set by law, but an administration can leave them unfilled. The AP counts more than two dozen military leaders fired or pushed to retire since Trump took office.

What to watch for

Which positions and officers are cut, whether the choices track loyalty rather than need, and how Congress responds.

The administration's side

Hegseth says it streamlines top-heavy command, fewer generals and more GIs, and notes the U.S. won World War II with far fewer four-star officers.

Sources

• Al Jazeera
• Washington Times
• Bloomberg
• Axios (2025 order)
• NPR (Sept. 30)
• Yahoo News
• The Hill (Senate reaction)
• AP via WTOP
• Federal News Network
• CNN