International

IIE Digital Desk : Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has mandated a 20% reduction in active-duty four-star generals and admirals, along with a 10% cut across all general and flag officer ranks. The National Guard will also see a 20% decrease in general officers. This initiative, dubbed the "Less Generals, More GIs" policy, aims to enhance strategic readiness and operational effectiveness by reallocating resources from administrative leadership to frontline forces. 

Hegseth emphasized that the move is not punitive but a deliberate effort to reduce bureaucracy and improve military efficiency. He highlighted the disproportionate increase in high-ranking officers compared to enlisted personnel since World War II, noting that during that era, the U.S. had 12 million troops and only 17 four- and five-star generals, whereas today's force of 2.1 million includes 44 such officers. 

The restructuring will be implemented in two phases. The first phase focuses on immediate reductions in top ranks, while the second phase involves a comprehensive review of the Unified Command Plan, potentially leading to further structural changes such as consolidating U.S. European and Africa Commands and merging the Northern and Southern Commands. 

This decision aligns with the Trump administration's broader efforts to streamline the federal government and reduce perceived bureaucratic inefficiencies. Since returning to office, President Donald Trump and his administration have initiated several reforms within the Department of Defense, including the termination of $580 million in programs and $5.1 billion in IT and consulting contracts deemed wasteful. These efforts have been supported by Elon Musk's cost-cutting outfit, DOGE. 

However, the cuts have sparked criticism from some lawmakers and defense experts. Senator Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed skepticism about the rationale behind the reductions, warning that eliminating the positions of many skilled and experienced officers without sound justification could harm military efficiency. 

The Pentagon has not yet specified which positions will be eliminated or the timeline for implementing the cuts. As the Department of Defense navigates these changes, the focus remains on maintaining the U.S. military's status as a lethal and effective fighting force while addressing concerns about bureaucratic overhead and resource allocation.