US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday confirmed plans to cut 20% generals and admirals in the American armed forces. The statement came during a "State of the Force" address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
Hegseth called it a step toward accountability and a long-overdue measure. According to him, about 10% senior officers had already been dismissed, and the total number of positions was cut by another 10%. The media call it a purge, but the secretary sees it as a necessity.
In his speech, he sharply criticized "diversity" and the Pentagon's previous approaches. "We are no longer a department of woke or weakness," Hegseth declared. "Plain translation: no fat people, no trans people, no bearded men, no weirdos, no weaklings, no radicals. Only warriors."
The secretary stressed that generals who "clung to the woke department" or viewed civilian control over the military as merely a recommendation "no longer work here." He dismissed reports of low morale as false and noted record retention rates among personnel.
The speech was a continuation of Hegseth's campaign against DEI programs and for tightening standards. He had previously already demanded a ban on beards and strict physical fitness standards. The cuts are taking place amid the ongoing US war with Iran.
Can such radical changes be expected to quickly boost combat readiness? For now, Hegseth presents the reform as a return to a focus on warriors and operational effectiveness.
