Hegseth Doubles US Military Leadership Cuts, Targets 20% Of General, Admiral Positions

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed plans to reduce the number of general and admiral positions across the US military by 20%, announcing the move alongside a series of initiatives aimed at restructuring the armed forces and accelerating the development of autonomous and robotic warfare. Hegseth made the announcements on Wednesday, September 30, during his “State of the Force” address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. The planned reduction will expand on an earlier 10% cut ordered last year and is expected to be completed by January 1, 2027.

The Pentagon had previously directed the military services to reduce approximately 800 flag and general officer positions by 10%. Hegseth said the latest decision would double that reduction, bringing the overall planned decrease to 20%. The change involves positions rather than necessarily removing an equivalent percentage of individual officers. Some senior posts could be eliminated, consolidated or reassigned to lower-ranking officers, including colonels and Navy captains. Hegseth described the measure as an accountability initiative intended to streamline the military's senior leadership structure.

A central announcement in the address was the creation of the Autonomous Warfare Command, a new four-star combatant command intended to oversee the development and deployment of autonomous and robotic capabilities across the US military. The command, also referred to as Autowarcom, will have responsibility for areas including drones, artificial intelligence and command-and-control systems. Hegseth said the organisation would have service-like authorities and would be designed to rapidly scale autonomous technologies across the armed forces. The Pentagon plans to establish the command within the next year.

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The initiative reflects a broader Pentagon push to adapt military operations to the growing use of relatively inexpensive drones, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. Hegseth characterised the change as the “fastest peacetime shift in modern military history,” arguing that warfare is increasingly being shaped by technologies that can be developed and deployed at scale. The new command is part of a wider effort to reorganise how the military develops emerging capabilities rather than relying primarily on traditional high-cost weapons platforms. The Pentagon's move also comes as drone warfare has become increasingly important in recent conflicts and as military planners examine how autonomous systems could alter future combat operations.

Hegseth's speech was delivered to junior officers and enlisted leaders, making it the second consecutive year he has used a “State of the Force” address to outline his priorities for the US military. The Pentagon chief has used his tenure to pursue significant changes in military policy and culture, including rolling back diversity programmes and reviewing policies concerning women serving in ground combat units. He also announced other initiatives during Wednesday's address, including an Office of Religious Affairs, measures intended to strengthen the resilience of military installations and a study examining the future of warfare.

The leadership cuts and technology initiatives come as US forces remain engaged in major military operations and face pressure to adapt to changing battlefield conditions. Hegseth has argued that reducing senior positions will create a leaner command structure while directing resources toward capabilities he considers critical to future conflicts. The proposed changes represent another significant step in his effort to reshape the Pentagon, combining reductions in senior leadership with a greater emphasis on drones, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. The implementation of the cuts and the new command will determine how quickly the Pentagon's proposed restructuring translates into changes across the military services.

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