WASHINGTON—Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on May 5 ordered a 20 percent reduction in the number of four-star generals and flag officers in the U.S. military, as well as reductions to the number of officers elsewhere.
Since President Donald Trump assumed office, his administration has proclaimed intentions of reforming the Department of Defense and its personnel policies. Already, Hegseth has ordered changes to training and recruitment and has dismissed several top four-star officers, such as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown, National Security Agency Director Gen. Timothy Haugh, and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti.