One in five positions held by generals and admirals will be cut as part of Pentagon plans confirmed by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth during a “State of the Force” speech Sept. 30 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.

Hegseth had previously announced plans for a 10% reduction and told the Quantico audience he would order an additional 10% cut, which he called “long overdue and frankly the bare minimum,” to get to a “20% reduction across the board.” 

The cuts would be finalized by Jan. 1, 2027, according to multiple media reports. Fox News first reported the plans the day before the speech. Previous plans also called for a 20% reduction in active duty four-star positions and the same reduction in National Guard general officer posts.

The initial cuts, announced in May 2025, were being made to remove “redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership,” according to a memo addressed to senior Pentagon leadership at the time.

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The Sept. 30 address covered other major initiatives, including the establishment of the Autonomous Warfare Command, plans to build a brand-new military installation with “independent power generation,” and a study of future warfare dubbed Project Meridian. 

The week before the Quantico address, Hegseth announced plans for the Joint Warfighter Evaluation, an assessment required of all officers seeking their first star. While the test will be taken by prospective generals and admirals across branches, it reportedly will vary by service and may include in-person or remote written assessments, wargames, and other activities.