The Washington Times reports that “Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday he plans to reduce the number of generals and admirals to counter a “top-heavy” command structure.”  

“Shrinking the top brass is one of a number of ideas for updating the sprawling Defense Department command structure as contained in the 30-year-old Goldwater-Nichols Act. Mr. Carter said there are too many four-star billets.”  

“’In the coming weeks the Defense Department will look to simplify and improve command and control where the number of four-star positions have made headquarters either top-heavy or less efficient than they could be,’ he said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington.”