Pentagon decides to make massive layoffs at top ranks of the military

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered a 20% reduction in the number of four-star officers, deepening cuts at the Pentagon that have shaken the Department of Defense at the start of President Donald Trump's second term in office. Hegseth has long been vocal about how he views the senior-most ranks of the military as too big.

The former Fox News host has moved with stunning speed to reshape the department, firing top generals and admirals as he seeks to implement Trump's national security agenda and root out diversity initiatives he calls discriminatory.

In a memo, the contents of which were first reported by Reuters, Hegseth said there will also be a minimum 20% reduction in the number of general officers in the National Guard and an additional 10% reduction among general and flag officers across the military. "More generals and admirals does not lead to more success," Hegseth said in a video posted on X.

"This is not a slash and burn exercise meant to punish high ranking officers, nothing could be further from the truth," he said. He added that he worked with the Joint Chiefs of Staff on this and the goal was "maximizing strategic readiness."

At his confirmation hearing, he stated there was "an inverse relationship between the size of staffs and victory on the battlefield."

At the time, he said there were 44 four-star positions in the military. He has since removed the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Navy's top admiral and the director of the National Security Agency. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island said he was skeptical of the plans, accusing Hegseth of having a track record of firing military leaders without cause.

"I have always advocated for efficiency at the Department of Defense, but tough personnel decisions should be based on facts and analysis, not arbitrary percentages," said Reed, who is the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"Eliminating the positions of many of our most skilled and experienced officers without sound justification would not create ‘efficiency’ in the military- it could cripple it."