US Defense Secretary Says Military Cut One-Fifth of Generals and Admirals

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the Pentagon has cut 20 percent of the generals and admirals serving across the US armed forces, as part of a broader push to reshape the department's senior leadership.

Hegseth described the changes as part of an effort to ensure senior officers fit a standard he outlined for military leadership. "Simple translation of that: no fatties, no trannies, no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps, no radicals. Just warriors – just tough, ready, committed troops," he said, characterizing the criteria used in the review.

The secretary did not detail the formal process used to identify which officers were removed, nor did he specify how many total general and admiral positions exist across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and other service branches, making it difficult to independently verify the scale of the reduction relative to total leadership positions.

The announcement adds to a series of changes Hegseth has made to senior military leadership since becoming defense secretary, which have previously included the removal or reassignment of a number of high-ranking officers.

Context

The remarks were notable for singling out groups including transgender service members and officers Hegseth characterized as not meeting physical fitness standards. The US military has in recent years maintained formal policies on body composition and fitness standards, as well as rules governing the service of transgender personnel that have shifted under different administrations.

The Pentagon has not released additional data confirming the total number of general and admiral positions affected, nor further explanation of the review process used to reach the 20 percent figure. Hegseth's comments were reported by France 24 and had not been independently corroborated with additional Pentagon documentation at the time of writing.