Hegseth Reduces the Number of Generals in the Armed Forces by 20%

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday a 20% reduction in the number of generals and admirals in the armed forces, in a move he said aims to "enhance accountability."

Hegseth also indicated that the cuts targeted officers who did not align with his efforts to ensure the military focuses on waging wars rather than on "woke" policies that particularly advocate for the rejection of all forms of discrimination, according to AFP.

Hegseth said before military personnel at the Quantico Marine Corps base in Virginia: "Experts say we have discharged 10% of generals and admirals across various branches of the armed forces," adding: "We have also reduced the total number of positions allocated for officers of the rank of general by an additional 10%," clarifying that the overall percentage reached 20%.

He also added that senior officers who "responded positively" to his previous speech "are now leading formations that have become more focused and disciplined," while those who did not respond to him "are no longer working here." He concluded: "We are no longer the Department of Woke or the Department of Weakness."

The speech came a year after a similar address he directed to senior officers, in which Hegseth stated that the U.S. military is overly bloated, excessively focused on leftist 'woke' ideas, and in need of a radical reform.