Pentagon chief Pete Hagseth. Photo: Michael Probst/AP
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hagel announced a large-scale reduction in senior military leadership and merger of combatant commands as part of reforms initiated by President Donald Trump in his second term. This includes a 20% reduction in the number of four-star officers in the National Guard and a 10% reduction in the US Armed Forces, Reuters reports.
Hagseth, a well-known critic of the army’s bloated bureaucracy, said that increasing the number of generals and admirals does not guarantee effectiveness. “This is not a punishment, but a necessary step towards strategic readiness,” he said in a video message on 5 May.
In a new memorandum, the Minister of Defence announced the possible merger of a number of regional commands: African Command with European Command, Southern Command with Northern Command. The feasibility of retaining four-star posts in the Pacific and South Korea is also being reviewed.
The purges have also affected civilian officials. In recent weeks, at least three senior officials, including Dan Caldwell, an adviser to Hagel, have been fired over leaks of classified information. The changes are accompanied by the launch of the “fewer generals, more soldiers” campaign, which aims to rebuild the US military to meet modern challenges.
At the same time, the reform has provoked resistance in Congress. Senior Senate Democrat Jack Reed criticised Hagesse’s approach, saying that dismissing experienced military personnel without proper analysis could weaken the army.
As of 2023, there were 37 four-star generals and admirals in the US armed forces. Under the new plans, this number will be significantly reduced, summing up Trump’s policy of reducing bureaucracy and centralising command.
