Overview

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of generals and admirals to Quantico and announced gender‑neutral or male‑level fitness benchmarks, tighter grooming rules and reviews that loosen anti‑hazing and bullying guardrails.
• Hegseth denounced what he called a 'Woke Department,' criticized 'fat generals,' and told officers who oppose his agenda to 'do the honorable thing and resign.'
• President Trump addressed the officers after Hegseth, describing domestic unrest as a 'war from within,' touting a quick‑reaction force for civil disturbances and suggesting using U.S. cities as training grounds, saying Chicago is 'very soon.'
• The directives formalize Hegseth’s broader overhaul that has included firing senior officers, proposing a 20% cut to the general and admiral ranks, and rebranding the Pentagon as the 'Department of War.'
• Experts and legal observers warned that the short‑notice, in‑person concentration of top commanders risks politicizing the officer corps and creates operational and security vulnerabilities.