Por Renan Filho · 2026-09-29**Lead**
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is moving to double the scale of personnel cuts among generals and admirals, according to multiple defense officials familiar with internal planning. The expanded reduction, expected to be formally proposed within weeks, would eliminate hundreds of senior officer billets across all military branches, reshaping the Pentagon’s command structure in ways not seen since the post-Cold War drawdowns of the 1990s.
**Contexto**
The initiative builds on a directive Hegseth issued shortly after his confirmation in early 2025, ordering a comprehensive review of all general and flag officer positions. That review initially targeted a modest reduction of roughly 5 percent of the nearly 900 active-duty generals and admirals currently serving across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force. However, according to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive planning, Hegseth has since concluded that deeper cuts are necessary to streamline decision-making and redirect resources toward modernization and readiness.
The new plan would effectively double the original target, cutting approximately 10 percent of senior officer posts — a move that would remove roughly 90 to 100 positions from the current roster. The cuts would be phased over two to three years, with an emphasis on eliminating redundant staff roles in the Pentagon’s headquarters, combatant commands, and service-specific headquarters. Officials say the reductions would fall disproportionately on administrative and liaison billets, while preserving operational command positions in combat theaters.
Hegseth’s push reflects a broader frustration within the Trump administration and among some Republican lawmakers with what they view as an overgrown, bureaucratic military leadership structure. The Pentagon has long been criticized for having more generals and admirals than at any point since World War II, even as the overall size of the active-duty force has shrunk by more than a third since the Cold War. A 2023 report from the Congressional Research Service noted that the number of general and flag officers has remained relatively stable over the past two decades, despite repeated calls for reform.
**Analise**
The proposed cuts carry significant implications for the military’s culture, career incentives, and operational effectiveness. Proponents argue that reducing the number of senior officers will force the services to flatten their hierarchies, speed up decision-making, and eliminate layers of bureaucracy that often slow down acquisitions and strategic planning. Hegseth has publicly argued that the current structure creates “too many chiefs and not enough Indians,” a phrase he used during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in March 2025, when he first outlined his intent to shrink the officer corps.
Critics, however, warn that indiscriminate cuts could weaken the military’s ability to manage complex global operations, particularly at a time when the United States faces simultaneous challenges from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. Retired generals and defense analysts have pointed out that many senior officers serve critical roles in joint planning, intelligence coordination, and interagency cooperation — functions that cannot easily be absorbed by lower-ranking personnel. Some have also raised concerns that the cuts could disproportionately affect minority and female officers, who are still underrepresented in the most senior ranks and could face fewer promotion opportunities.
The Pentagon’s internal resistance is expected to be fierce. Senior military leaders, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have privately expressed reservations about the pace and scale of the reductions, according to officials. Hegseth has made clear that he expects full compliance, and has signaled that officers who resist the reforms could face early retirement or reassignment. The Secretary has also enlisted support from the White House, where President Donald Trump has endorsed the cuts as part of his broader campaign to reduce federal bureaucracy.
**Fontes**
This report is based on information from multiple defense officials familiar with internal Pentagon planning, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Additional context was drawn from public statements by Secretary Hegseth, Congressional Research Service reports on military officer strength, and historical data on Pentagon personnel levels. No official announcement has been made, and the final scope of the cuts remains subject to change pending internal reviews and congressional consultation.