Washington [US], December 17: The Pentagon is planning to demote some U.S. commands and redistribute power among top generals at the request of War Secretary Pete Hegseth.
If implemented, the plan would bring about some of the most far-reaching changes at the highest levels of the Pentagon in decades. This is intended to realize Secretary Hegseth's commitment to breaking the status quo and reducing the number of four-star generals in the military, according to The Washington Post , citing sources familiar with the matter.
Reorganizing the commands
General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is expected to present details of the new plan to Secretary Hegseth in the coming days. According to five informed sources, US media reports indicate that the regional commands that may be downgraded are the Central Command, the European Command, and the Africa Command. These will be placed under the authority of a newly established command called the International Command.
These moves will complement other efforts by the Trump administration to shift resources away from the Middle East and Europe to focus on expanding military operations in the Western Hemisphere. The plan also proposes moving the Southern and Northern Commands under a new headquarters called the Americas Command.
The concept of a new command had previously been reported by NBC News. Pentagon officials also discussed the possibility of establishing an Arctic Command operating under the Americas Command. However, this idea was rejected.
If implemented, the reorganization would reduce the number of operational commands from 11 to 8, while also decreasing the number of four-star generals and admirals reporting directly to Secretary Hegseth. The commands that would remain unchanged include: the Indo-Pacific Command, the Cyber Command, the Special Operations Command, the Space Command, the Strategic Command, and the Transportation Command.
In line with the national security strategy.
According to informed sources, the reform direction aligns with the national security policy announced by the Trump administration earlier this month.
The Washington Post reports that the proposal was drafted and developed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the supervision of General Caine. The general is expected to present the plan to Secretary Hegseth as early as this week, along with at least two alternative options.
A senior military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the reform plan was implemented at Hegseth's request to improve command and control of forces. Hegseth had been closely monitoring the planning process for months.
Any changes to the military structure require the approval of both Hegseth and President Trump . Lawmakers have demanded that the Pentagon submit a detailed plan for the reform, outlining the potential costs and the impact on U.S. alliances.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper