Pete Hegseth to slash 4-star generals in Pentagon shake-up that pulls the plug on Europe and Middle East
By ELINA SHIRAZI, US SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER
Published: 11:46 EST, 16 December 2025
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is driving a major overhaul to pivot the US military away from Europe and the Middle East and refocus operations on the Western Hemisphere, sources indicate to the Washington Post.
Top Pentagon leadership are finalizing a plan that would dramatically downgrade America's military presence in traditional theaters while consolidating power closer to home – marking a fundamental shift in US strategic priorities.
The proposal would reduce US Central Command, US Africa Command and US European Command to subordinate status under a new umbrella organization called US International Command – stripping these Middle Eastern and European-focused headquarters of their current four-star authority.
Simultaneously, the plan calls for merging US Southern Command and US Northern Command into a powerful new headquarters dubbed US Americas Command, or 'Americom' – elevating the Western Hemisphere's importance in the Pentagon's hierarchy.
If approved, the restructuring would trigger the first substantial shake-up of the military's top brass in generations while slashing the number of four-star generals reporting directly to Hegseth.
The initiative aligns with Trump's national security strategy released this month declaring the 'days of the United States propping up the entire world order like Atlas are over.'
Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine is expected to present detailed plans to Hegseth in the coming days.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15388627/Pete-Hegseth-slash-4-star-generals-Pentagon-shake-pulls-plug-Europe-Middle-East.html
