Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he wants to "streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions" in the US military. In a memo published Monday, Hegseth said he wanted to reduce the number of four-star positions in the active-duty military and the number of general officers in the National Guard by at least 20%.

WATCH: MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace reports on orders by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to cut 20% of top officers in the military.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered senior Pentagon leadership to cut the number of four-star generals and admirals by at least 20% across the military, according to a memo signed by Hegseth dated May 5 and obtained by CNN.