Hegseth looking to cut a slew of senior military personnel in latest Pentagon purge: report
Por Joe Sommerlad — – World RSS Feed
Hegseth looking to cut a slew of senior military personnel in latest Pentagon purge: report
Defense Secretary to announce more reductions to high-ranking posts in State of the Force address: ‘Less generals, more GIs’
Joe Sommerlad Wednesday 30 September 2026 09:42 BST
- Bookmark
- Comments Go to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks
Close popover
Become an Independent member to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.
Already a member?
Log in
Your support helps us to tell the story
Read more Support Now
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Read more
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will use his State of the Force address Wednesday to announce he is cutting 20 percent of senior military positions in his latest purge at the Pentagon, according to a report.
The secretary’s speech – coming a year on from his first table-setting lecture to top brass at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia – is expected to lay out his priorities for the next 12 months and include his reduction plans for the Army, Navy and Air Force, a September memo seen by Fox News indicates.
The memo directs Pentagon officials to identify which among the roughly 800 general and flag officer positions can be downgraded as part of an emphasis on creating a culture of “less generals, more GIs.”
Hegseth’s new target doubles the 10 percent reduction in senior roles he ordered last year and is expected to be implemented by January 1, 2027.
The downsizing also comes after he moved in May 2025 to strip back four-star active-duty positions and general officer positions in the National Guard by 20 percent.
open image in galleryAnnouncing that decision, the secretary explained: “This is not a slash-and-burn exercise meant to punish high-ranking officers.
“This has been a deliberative process, working with the Joint Chiefs of Staff with one goal: maximizing strategic readiness and operational effectiveness by making prudent reductions.”
The Independent has reached out to the Pentagon for comment on Hegseth’s expected announcement.
Since taking charge of the U.S. military, the former Fox News host has overseen the removal of swathes of top officials while pursuing culture war vendettas against DEI appointments and “woke” values and insisting on the need to nurture a high-testosterone “warfighter” mentality among the troops.
Gen. Charles Q Brown Jr, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, Gen. Randy George, Gen. Christopher Donahue and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll are just some of the casualties of the upheaval.
open image in galleryThe exodus has provoked disquiet even among congressional Republicans, with Maine Sen. Susan Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, saying of Hegseth this week: “One of my concerns, which unfortunately has been borne out, was that he would fire a lot of very capable military officials, and he has done that.
“He has blocked promotions for some of our most capable military officers. The number of women and Black people that had been struck from the list was awful.”
She and several Senate GOP colleagues suggested the secretary could struggle to get a mammoth $1.5 trillion budget request for 2027 approved as a result of a lack of confidence in his leadership, particularly over the ongoing Iran war, and because of his alleged failure to cultivate relationships on Capitol Hill.
Hegseth’s priorities will be on display at Wednesday’s address where he is set to be accompanied by troops who meet strict grooming requirements.
An email sent out earlier this month and first reported by The Wall Street Journal seeking troops to be seen with the secretary who meet the Army’s preferred waist-to-height ratio and fitness tests and have “impeccable grooming and uniform standards (no exception).”
More about
Pete HegsethPentagonArmyAir ForceNavy
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Most popular
Popular videos
Bulletin
Read next
Fonte: – World RSS Feed
