U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is preparing to announce a new phase of reform for the senior command staff of the American armed forces. According to U.S. media reports, the number of general and admiral positions is set to be reduced by 20%, which is double the previously announced figure. Hegseth is expected to discuss the reform on Wednesday during a speech addressing the state of the U.S. armed forces. According to The Washington Post, the changes could impact the careers of hundreds of current and future high-ranking officers. In recent months, there have already been numerous dismissals, resignations, and instances of denied promotions within the Pentagon. However, this does not necessarily mean the dismissal of all military personnel. In some cases, general and admiral positions may be downgraded to a lower level, and some positions may be completely eliminated. In fact, this is part of a continued large-scale restructuring of the senior military leadership in the U.S., which began after Hegseth took office as Secretary of Defense. Since taking office, he has already initiated a series of personnel changes in the senior command. Among the most notable decisions are the dismissal of U.S. Army Chief of Staff Randy George, as well as the removal of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Brown Jr. and Commander of the Navy Admiral Lisa Franchetti. Additionally, several high-ranking military officials have left service, either retiring or resigning. Among them is Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who, according to media reports, departed after repeated disagreements with Hegseth. It remains unclear how the new cuts will be implemented and how they will affect the functioning of the armed forces. According to ABC News, it is still uncertain whether such a significant reduction in the number of senior command positions will complicate the management of the army in the context of ongoing combat operations. Thus, if the plans are realized, this will be one of the largest reductions in the senior officer corps of the U.S. in recent years and a continuation of the reform of the Pentagon's structure.
