Why is Hegseth cutting 20 percent of US general and admiral positions? | Military News | Al Jazeera - MK体育平台

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrives at a National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony outside the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, on September 18, 2026 [Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA]

By Caolán Magee

Published On 30 Sep 202630 Sep 2026 [...] In February 2025, Trump also fired Air Force General CQ Brown as chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff as part of a wider shake-up of top military leadership.

Other departures have been of civilian leaders. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned in late August after reported disagreements over Hegseth’s handling of senior military personnel. [...] United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to cut the number of positions in the US military reserved for generals and admirals by 20 percent, raising concerns about political interference in the military’s leadership amid strained relations with senior Pentagon officials.

An announcement is expected on Wednesday when Hegseth gives his “State of the Force” address to junior officers and enlisted personnel at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

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