Charles Esther
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a bold initiative to reduce the number of four-star positions in the United States military by at least 20 percent.
This move is part of a broader effort to streamline leadership and enhance operational effectiveness.
In a memo released on Monday, Hegseth stated that he also aims to cut the number of general officers in the National Guard by a similar margin.
Additionally, he proposed a further 10 percent reduction in general and flag officers across the military.
“More Generals Do Not Equal More Success”
In a video shared on X, Hegseth made it clear that the cuts are not intended to penalise military leadership.
“More generals and admirals does not equal more success,” he said.
He assured the public that the reductions are not a “slash-and-burn” effort but a strategic measure to increase efficiency.
Strategic Readiness Through Leadership Reform
Hegseth emphasised that the initiative is part of a “deliberative process” involving the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The main objective is to strengthen strategic readiness and operational effectiveness by optimising the leadership structure.
He cited historical figures to support his point, noting that during World War II, the US had only 17 four- and five-star generals, compared to 44 four-star and flag officers today.
Official Reports Back the Numbers
A Congressional Research Service report from March 2024 stated that the US military had 37 four-star officers as of September 2023.
This figure highlights the growth in high-ranking roles and supports Hegseth’s call for reform.
Launching the “Less Generals More GIs Policy”
Hegseth dubbed the plan the “Less Generals More GIs Policy,” signalling a shift in focus from high-ranking positions to combat-ready personnel.
The initiative aims to ensure that resources are better allocated to benefit active-duty troops.
Continuing Efforts to Eliminate Waste
This policy is part of Hegseth’s broader mission to cut wasteful defence spending.
In March, he announced the cancellation of over $580 million in contracts, programs, and grants identified as unnecessary by DOGE, a cost-cutting task force led by Elon Musk and formerly co-led by Vivek Ramaswamy.
Musk and Ramaswamy had previously criticised the Pentagon’s $841 billion budget in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, citing repeated audit failures.
Cutting IT and Consulting Contracts
Last month, Hegseth also announced reductions in IT and consulting services from firms like Accenture and Deloitte.
These contracts were labelled as wasteful and represented $5.1 billion in spending.
According to Hegseth, terminating these deals could save taxpayers nearly $4 billion.
Praise for Cost-Cutting Partners
In his video on X, Hegseth thanked DOGE and other contributors who helped uncover financial inefficiencies.
He expressed enthusiasm about the reforms, stating they serve both the taxpayers and warfighters.
Conclusion
With these bold moves, Hegseth is seeking to reshape the Pentagon’s leadership and budgeting strategies.
By cutting top-level positions and reallocating resources to combat forces, the initiative may mark a turning point in US military policy.
