Pentagon to slash senior-most ranks of US military

In a memo, the contents of which were first reported by Reuters, Hegseth said there will also be a minimum 20 per cent reduction in the number of general officers in the National Guard and an additional 10 per cent reduction among general and flag officers across the military.

"More generals and admirals does not lead to more success," Hegseth said in a video posted on social media.

"This is not a slash and burn exercise meant to punish high ranking officers, nothing could be further from the truth," he said.