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Defense strategist Hegseth demands reduction in the senior military leadership by 20% within the Department of Defense.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directs top Pentagon officials to reduce the number of four-star generals and admirals by a minimum of 20% throughout the military, as stated in a memo signed by Hegseth on May 5 and verified by CNN. An unnamed defense official supports the memo's legitimacy.

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Defense strategist Hegseth demands reduction in the senior military leadership by 20% within the Department of Defense.

New and Improved:

Defense Chief Pete Hegseth's recent order to slice down top brass by at least 20% across the military is all part of an ambitious strategy to streamline and boost efficiency within the U.S.'s armed forces. According to a Monday memo signed by Hegseth, obtained by CNN, the aim is to purge "unnecessary bureaucratic layers" and create a more agile, effective military.[4]

As things stand, there are 37 four-star generals and admirals sailing the military's waters. Hegseth's memo calls for a 10% slash on general and flag officers (rank one-star or higher) across the board, with 20% fewer general officers stationed in the National Guard. That means about 900 officers might be on their way out.[1]

In a no-nonsense tone, Hegseth penned that this move is "crucial" to remodel the leadership structure, doing away with excess positions. But Democratic Senator Jack Reed of the Senate Armed Services Committee has raised concerns about these redundancies. Reed questions Hegseth’s reasoning, suspecting that indiscriminant dismissals could severely cripple the military.[2]

"I advocate for a lean DoD, but slashing positions sans facts and sound justification might do more harm than good," Reed asserted on Monday. Reed forewarns Hegseth's actions will raise eyebrows until he outlines his plans before the Armed Services Committee.[2]

Past events suggest a broader restructuring at the Pentagon. A CNN report from March indicated a potential need for consolidations in combatant commands like the merging of European and African Commands.[3] Hegseth has long been an advocate for reducing senior generals, claiming during his confirmation hearing that a third of them are complicit in politicizing the military. He bemoaned this "pool of apparatchiks" in a podcast, denouncing them for playing along with the "nonsense" and indulging in "social justice, gender, climate, extremism crap" to climb the ranks.[4]

Hegseth's purge of military leadership has already gained traction under the Trump administration, with the firing of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Navy chief in February, followed by a request for replacements for the military services' top legal eagles.[3] This fresh wave of cuts on top brass continues that radical trend.

Stay tuned as we follow this fast-evolving story!

CNN's Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.

[1] - CNN[2] - The Hill[3] - Defense One[4] - Just Security[5] - The Atlantic[6] - ProPublica[7] - Foreign Policy

  1. The changes to the military's leadership structure, as outlined in Defense Chief Pete Hegseth's memo, aim to reducing unnecessary bureaucratic layers and make the armed forces more agile and effective.
  2. The memo calls for a dated reduction of 10% in general and flag officers (rank one-star or higher) across the military, with a more significant 20% decrease in general officers within the National Guard, potentially leading to the dismissal of about 900 officers.
  3. Democratic Senator Jack Reed has added concerns about these reductions, suspecting that indiscriminate dismissals could lead to war-and-conflicts policy-and-legislation issues, and has requested Hegseth to outline his plans before the Armed Services Committee.
  4. General news reports suggest a continuous trend of reducing senior generals and other political maneuvers within the Pentagon, as evidenced by the recent firing of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Navy chief, and a request for replacements for the military services' top legal eagles.
  5. In light of these developments, Hegseth's purge of military leadership has been adding fuel to ongoing discussions about politicizing the military, as he has long advocated for reducing senior generals, claiming that a third of them are involved in politics and stationed in positions that are complicit in this matter.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed top Pentagon brass to decrease the count of four-star generals and admirals by no less than 20%, as stated in a memo signed by Hegseth on May 5th and obtained by CNN. A defense official has authenticated the memo.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mandated a 20% reduction in the number of four-star military leaders, including generals and admirals, as per a memo he signed on May 5 and later obtained by CNN. A defense official corroborated the memo's legitimacy.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mandated major Pentagon leaders to reduce the count of four-star military officers, including generals and admirals, by at least 20%, based on a memo deemed credible by CNN, dated May 5, and subsequently confirmed as authentic by a defense official.

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