Hegseth orders ‘comprehensive transformation’ of US Army, merging offices and cutting units
Breaking Defense first reported that major structural changes were coming for the Army.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visits Joint Task Force North, U.S. Northern Command, to see the efforts military men and women are undertaking in support of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to secure the southern border at Fort Bliss, Texas, Feb. 12, 2025. (US Army/ Sgt. 1st Class Andrew R. Sveen)
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday ordered the “comprehensive transformation” of the US Army, including divesting certain formations and merging several internal organizations.
Breaking Defense first broke news this week that a major restructuring of the Army was on the table, including the mergers of Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command into a new organization — something Hegseth’s memo confirmed when it was publicly released today.
The defense secretary’s memo also confirms that the Army needs to shrink its general officer ranks, review and consolidate “operations across select depots, arsenals, and installations,” and revamp the sustainment enterprise, including changes to Army Material Command. US Army North and South are also merging into a single headquarters focused on homeland defense and partnership with Western Hemisphere allies.
Other moves of note include orders to “reduce and restructure manned attack helicopter formations and augment with inexpensive drone swarms capable of overwhelming adversaries,” and “divest outdated formations, including select armor and aviation units across the total Army (Active, Reserve, National Guard).”
“To build a leaner, more lethal force, the Army must transform at an accelerated pace by divesting outdated, redundant, and inefficient programs, as well as restructuring headquarters and acquisition systems,” Hegseth wrote in his memo [PDF]. “Simultaneously, the Army must prioritize investments in accordance with the Administration’s strategy, ensuring existing resources are prioritized to improve long-range precision fires, air and missile defense including through the Golden Dome for America, cyber, electronic warfare, and counter-space capabilities.”
This is breaking news. This story will be updated
