The United States Minister of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered a reduction of at least 20% on the number of four -star generals and admirals in practice on Monday, according to a memo.
Since its entry into office at the end of January, the government of Donald Trump says he wants to align the armed forces with the president’s political priorities, dismissing senior officers and wishing to dismiss thousands of civilian workers.
According to the same source, the Minister also ordered a 20% reduction in the number of high officers in the National Guard or 10% other enrollment within the army. The conditions of application of these workforce reductions have not been specified.
In March 2025, there were 38 four -star soldiers, the highest grade that one could reach in the American army, and a total of 817 generals and admirals in practice.
“Thanks to these measures, we will maintain our position as the most formidable combat force in the world, establishing peace by force and ensuring greater efficiency, more innovation and preparation for the challenges to come”, can be read in memo.
In February, Donald Trump had suddenly dismissed, without explanation, the chief of staff Charles Brown, also known as CQ Brown.
The Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the head of the American Navy, was also sent, the Admiral Linda Fagan, appointed by Joe Biden at the head of the American coast guard and the first woman to lead one of the six branches of the army, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and several high-ranking military lawyers.
Pete Hegseth justified these dismissals by explaining that the president simply placed the officials he wanted where he wanted, but democratic parliamentarians expressed their concern about the potential politicization of the army.
