US military cuts generals, admirals by 20%, Hegseth says

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that the United States military has slashed the number of its generals and admirals by 20%. He made the announcement while addressing junior officers and enlisted leaders at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia during what he called his "State of the Force" address. "The number-crunchers say we fired 10% of the generals and admirals across the force," Hegseth said, adding: "We've also reduced the overall number of general officer slots by an additional 10%." "So yes, 20% reduction across the board," he noted. "The media calls that a purge. I call it accountability, and long overdue.