how many generals and admirals has hegseth fired

Hegseth has publicly been reported as removing or pushing out more than 20 generals and admirals , with several outlets in April–June 2026 describing it as “more than a dozen” and one post citing “over 20.”

What the reporting says

• A Washington Post report said Gen. Christopher Donahue was the latest apparent casualty in a broader purge of senior military leaders.
• The Washington Post also reported Hegseth had forced out Army’s top general plus two other senior officers in early April.

• Axios described 13 military officials as having departed under the administration, though that includes more than just firings and is broader than Hegseth alone.

Best answer

If you mean strictly fired by Hegseth himself , the safest on-the-record answer from available reports is “over 20”.

Why the number is fuzzy

Different stories count different things:

• direct firings,
• forced retirements,
• promotions blocked,
• and broader departures from the Pentagon.

So the number depends on the definition, but “more than 20” is the most common public framing in the sources surfaced here.