Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering a sweeping reorganization of the US military’s command structure that could reduce America’s presence in Europe and consolidate senior leadership, according to a report by The Washington Post.
Exclusive: Senior Pentagon officials are preparing a plan to downgrade several of the U.S. military’s major headquarters and shift the balance of power among its top generals, people familiar with the matter said. https://t.co/DPObJ0WkYc
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 16, 2025
The proposal would place US European, Central, and Africa Commands under a new umbrella known as US International Command.
US Northern and Southern Commands would be merged into a new US Americas Command, shifting focus toward the Western Hemisphere.
If approved, the plan would cut the number of combatant commands from 11 to eight and reduce the number of four-star generals reporting directly to the Pentagon.
#US officials are working on a plan for a reorganization of the military requested by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth that would reduce four-star generals and consolidate some international command centers, the Washington Post reports. https://t.co/PbgZWUP37E
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) December 16, 2025
Supporters say the overhaul would streamline decision-making and align with President Donald Trump’s national security strategy, which argues the US can no longer shoulder global defense commitments alone.
Critics, including former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, warned that consolidation could weaken America’s ability to manage emerging threats.
The Pentagon has declined to comment on leaked documents. Congress has moved to delay any implementation until lawmakers review its costs and impact on alliances.
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