Order issued to reduce US Army senior generals by 20 percent
American Media Reveals: U.S. Defense Secretary Orders 20% Reduction in Top Generals
The English section of the Webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency, reports that CNN has disclosed a signed order by U.S.Defense secretary Pete Hegseth, mandating a 20% reduction in senior generals across the U.S. military. A copy of the directive was obtained by the network.
The order, signed on Monday, requires the Pentagon to cut the number of four-star generals and admirals by at least 20%. Additionally, it enforces a 20% reduction in National Guard generals and a 10% cut in all senior officers within the U.S.armed forces. Current statistics indicate approximately 900 high-ranking officers serve in the U.S. military.
In the directive, Hegseth emphasized that this move is a critical step to eliminate redundant structures and optimize leadership by reducing excess senior officer positions, thereby streamlining command operations within the military.
CNN previously reported in March that—aligned with former President Trump’s policy to downsize federal agencies—the Department of Defense had been considering broad reductions across top-tier military ranks separately from this new mandate.
Separately, NBC News cited two unnamed sources early Sunday revealing that members of Congress were informed about plans to reduce staffing at the Central intelligence agency (CIA) under Trump’s administration—a move expected to result in layoffs affecting roughly 1,000 to 1,200 personnel. The report added that broader workforce cuts across CIA and other U.S intelligence agencies are also being planned under Trump’s directives.
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