Defense Secretary Hegseth Announces 20% Senior Officer Cuts and New Lethality Initiative
On 2 October, U. S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said he was calling for increased lethality in the force and unveiled Project Meridian, a partnership with private-sector leaders to field autonomous weapons, as the United States completed its withdrawal from Iraq.
Earlier, Hegseth outlined a plan to cut roughly 20 % of active-duty general and flag officer billets – about 170 positions – reducing the senior officer corps to around 680 posts. The Pentagon announced the reductions would take effect by 1 January 2027, with some slots downgraded rather than eliminated, and the proposal was pending congressional review. In a Quantico briefing he also emphasized a stronger warrior ethos, expanded use of autonomous systems and the creation of an Office of Religious Affairs, and highlighted new initiatives to improve training, readiness and discipline.
