Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to announce a 20 percent reduction in positions reserved for generals and admirals during his State of the Force address on Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

The cuts double the minimum 10 percent reduction in general and flag officer billets that Hegseth ordered last year. Officials said the reductions will affect the Army, Navy, Air Force, and joint military pool, with implementation required by January 1, 2027.

Some positions will be downgraded to allow colonels or Navy captains to fill roles previously held by one- to four-star officers rather than eliminating every billet outright. The move builds on earlier directives that included a 20 percent cut to active-duty four-star positions and a 20 percent reduction in National Guard general officers.

Hegseth has already fired or blocked promotions for dozens of senior officers since taking office. The latest steps aim to streamline the roughly 800 general and flag officer positions across the force and shift resources and decision-making authority closer to operational units.

The announcement comes as the Pentagon continues broader personnel and readiness reforms focused on merit, fitness standards, and reduced mandatory training requirements. Hegseth is expected to address junior officers and enlisted personnel directly at the Quantico event.