US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has ordered the assembly of over 200 generals and admirals from across the globe to convene at Quantico, Virginia next week. The Pentagon confirmed the event but offered no specifics, leaving military officials puzzled. While President Trump referred to the gathering as a ‘friendly’ get-together at the rebranded Department of War, defense officials pointed to the unprecedented nature of the event, citing logistical disruptions and questioning its necessity.
Hegseth’s recent leadership overhaul has included firing several high-ranking officers and reducing the number of four-star generals, further deepening concerns about the meeting’s purpose. The large-scale gathering comes amid Hegseth’s sweeping overhaul of the Pentagon’s leadership. Since taking office, he has fired more than a dozen senior officers, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. and Navy chief Adm. Lisa Franchetti, while ordering a 20% reduction in four-star generals and admirals. He has repeatedly argued that “more generals and admirals does not lead to more success.”
Military officials noted that while the Joint Chiefs and combatant commanders traditionally meet twice a year in Washington, the recall of hundreds of officers, including those commanding conflict zones, is virtually without precedent. The Pentagon has recently completed two major policy reviews, including a new National Defense Strategy that shifts military priorities from China to homeland security and the Western Hemisphere. Some observers expect Hegseth to use the Quantico gathering to preview the strategy and outline his “less generals, more GIs” policy.
Trump and Hegseth have also tightened information control at the Pentagon. A new memo warned reporters that “unauthorized” disclosures could result in revoked press credentials, while Hegseth told critics: “The press does not run the Pentagon – the people do.” This has sparked debates about the balance between transparency and national security in military operations.