Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, that the Department of Defense is reducing its count of generals and admirals by 20%. Speaking at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, Hegseth stated that the cuts include both the firing of top officers and the elimination of 10% of existing general officer slots. He described the personnel changes as a move toward "accountability" and a shift away from what he characterized as a "woke" department.
The overhaul follows a pledge by Hegseth to prioritize a "warrior ethos" and "lethality" over diversity initiatives. Since he took office at the start of the second Trump administration, at least 20 generals, admirals, and civilian leaders have resigned or been terminated. Notable departures include the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and top uniformed officials from the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Hegseth characterized these removals by stating, "The ideological clowns are out. The patriotic cowboys are in."
Hegseth detailed specific groups he seeks to exclude from service, including transgender individuals, overweight people, and those with beards. He announced new initiatives, including "testosterone testing" and the creation of an Autonomous Warfare Command to focus on artificial intelligence and robotics. Additionally, he introduced "Project Meridian," a 120-day study on the future of war led by Elon Musk, Newt Gingrich, and Palmer Luckey, and invited states to pitch locations for "the next great American military base."
Critics of the policy, including Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), argue that the removal of these officers constitutes a "purge" of experienced leaders with decades of service. Civil rights groups such as the NAACP and the National Women’s Law Center have expressed concern that these changes could block promotions for women and Black service members. Conversely, proponents and reports from the Congressional Research Service suggest that a high number of top-tier officers can lead to "bureaucratic layers" and higher employment costs. The scale of these cuts is noted by political science experts as being more significant than those made by previous secretaries, occurring while the U.S. manages ammunition depletion during the ongoing seventh month of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
The next steps for the department include the establishment of the Autonomous Warfare Command and a new Office of Religious Affairs to protect budgets and infrastructure for religious support. The Pentagon is also moving to establish new cadet corps programs at five specific institutions: Louisiana State University, Liberty University, Tuskegee University, Mississippi State University, and Hillsdale College. These schools will be designated as distinguished military colleges where students receive priority in officer commissioning. The results of the 120-day "Project Meridian" study are expected to further shape future military structure and technological procurement.