U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered a 20% reduction in the number of four-star officers, deepening cuts at the Pentagon that have shaken the Department of Defense at the start of President Donald Trump's second term in office, Reuters reported.

Hegseth has long been vocal about how he views the senior-most ranks of the military as too big.

In a memo, the contents of which were first reported by Reuters, Hegseth said there will also be a minimum 20 percent reduction in the number of general officers in the National Guard and an additional 10% 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 X.

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