The reductions apply to billets, or positions designated for generals and admirals, rather than an across-the-board removal of 20% of officers currently serving in those ranks, a Department of War source told Fox News. Some positions will be downgraded instead of removed completely, according to the report. An earlier directive separately called for a 20% decrease in active-duty four-star positions, as well as a 20% reduction in National Guard general officers.
The distinction between billets and serving officers is central to how the plan is structured. A billet is a specific job coded for a general or flag officer; eliminating or downgrading the billet changes what rank is required to fill it, without automatically removing the person currently in the seat.
In practical terms, officials were told to identify positions that could be downgraded to O-6 requirements, a move that would open those jobs to colonels and Navy captains. The September 16 memo cited by Fox News formalized that instruction. According to the report, the changes are part of a broader effort to streamline the military's senior ranks and reduce what Hegseth has described as unnecessary bureaucracy.
The reduction targets follow earlier moves to reshape how the Pentagon evaluates and promotes senior officers. In September 2026, Hegseth announced a new process known as the Joint Warfighter Evaluation, which he said was intended to reduce bureaucracy and ensure meritocracy across the senior ranks. Starting this year, colonels and Navy captains screening to become one-star generals undergo the assessment, according to Hegseth [1].
Resignations and Purge Follow Hegseth Reforms
The reduction plans follow a string of resignations within the military establishment, the latest of which saw Army Secretary Dan Driscoll step down. As ZeroHedge reported, Driscoll submitted his resignation to President Trump following months of tensions with Hegseth [2]. Responsible Statecraft reported that Driscoll, a longtime friend of Vice President JD Vance, drew widespread praise for efforts to modernize the Army but was pushed to the margins as the administration moved to silence skeptics of President Trump's war policies [3].
Hegseth had ousted former Army Chief of Staff General Randy George in April 2026, and the U.S. military's Europe and Africa commander, General Christopher Donahue, resigned suddenly in June, according to reports. The Times of Israel reported that George was fired by Hegseth, with three U.S. defense officials telling Reuters that firing a general during wartime was nearly without precedent [4]. In April 2026, Hegseth also fired Gen. David Hodne, head of Transformation and Training Command, and Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., chief of the Chaplain Corps [5].
Hegseth said last year that those who did not support his reforms for the military could step down. In 2026, mainstream media outlets reported that Hegseth's purge had left the U.S. military rudderless, noting that there were 10 four-star generals on active duty when Hegseth took office and that the service had five, the fewest in decades. An analyst writing for Natural News argued that the firing of the generals signaled a war escalation America could not afford, describing the purge at the Pentagon as a matter of "grim recognition" [6].
Deployments and Reports on Iran School Strike
The reduction plans come as U.S. troops remain deployed across West Asia. Hegseth quietly extended U.S. troop deployments in the Middle East, according to people familiar with the matter, signaling that the military campaign against Iran could continue into 2027 [7]. The current posture includes 19 warships, air-defense units, fighter squadrons and paratroopers positioned across the region, officials said.
More recent reports have said that President Donald Trump plans to renew bombardment of Iran after midterm elections. The military campaign involving Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has killed thousands, according to reports. As the Pentagon's inspector general reported, munitions used during the war with Iran have resulted in "strategic" U.S. munitions shortfalls, with inventory depletion and bottlenecks for resupply [8].
On September 19, Bloomberg reported that cuts within the Pentagon led to the U.S. airstrike on an elementary school in Minab that killed at least 120 Iranian schoolchildren at the start of the war. The report linked the Pentagon cuts to the strike, though officials have not confirmed the connection. The allegation remains unverified, and the Pentagon has not issued a public statement confirming or denying the Bloomberg report's central claim.
Announcement Set for State of the Force Address
Hegseth is due to announce the reduction plans during a State of the Force address on Wednesday, according to Fox News. The services have been directed to complete the reductions by January 1, 2027. Further details on which positions will be cut or downgraded were not provided in the report.
The planned cuts occur as Hegseth faces mounting congressional scrutiny. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth in September 2026, alleging the Pentagon chief engaged in suppression of free speech, constitutional violations, and unlawful conduct by the military [9]. Massie said he did not give "anybody" a heads up before introducing the articles, according to 100 Percent Fed Up [10].
References
- The Epoch Times. "Pentagon Unveils New Testing Process for US Generals". The Epoch Times. September 22, 2026.
- ZeroHedge. "Army Secretary Dan Driscoll Submits Resignation Amid Tensions With Hegseth". ZeroHedge. September 1, 2026.
- Responsible Statecraft. "Why are so many Vance allies leaving the Trump administration?". Responsible Statecraft. September 2, 2026.
- Times of Israel. "Hegseth fires US Army chief of staff, shaking up Pentagon amid Iran war". Times of Israel. April 3, 2026.
- 100 Percent Fed Up. "BREAKING: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth FIRES Two MORE Army Generals". 100 Percent Fed Up. April 3, 2026.
- Mike Adams. "The Coming Sacrifice: Why Trump's Firing of the Generals Signals a War Escalation America Can't Afford". NaturalNews.com. April 3, 2026.
- Natural News. "U.S. Extends Middle East Troop Deployments Into 2027 as Iran War Drags On". NaturalNews.com. September 4, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "Pentagon watchdog says war on Iran led to 'strategic' US munitions shortfalls". Middle East Eye. September 15, 2026.
- The Epoch Times. "Kentucky Republican Massie Introduces Articles of Impeachment Against Pentagon Chief Hegseth". The Epoch Times. September 16, 2026.
- 100 Percent Fed Up. "Thomas Massie Says He Did Not Tell Anyone Before Announcing Articles Of Impeachment Against Pete Hegseth". 100 Percent Fed Up. September 16, 2026.
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