U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has startled Washington by calling hundreds of generals and admirals of one-star rank or higher to an unexpected meeting at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia.

Scheduled for next Tuesday, the gathering was announced without context, raising questions across the military establishment. 

Three people familiar with the matter, speaking anonymously, described the move as “unusual” and without recent precedent. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell merely confirmed that Hegseth “will address his senior military leaders early next week,” offering no further explanation. 

The U.S. military counts roughly 800 generals and admirals, many commanding thousands of troops spread across multiple continents. Organizing such a large-scale meeting is no minor logistical feat, and its lack of stated purpose has fueled suspicion. 

When asked about it, President Donald Trump appeared unaware. “I’ll be there if they need me, but why is it such a big deal?” he said to reporters in the Oval Office.

Vice President J.D. Vance downplayed the issue, arguing that the media had “made this into a big story” and that it was not unusual for senior officers to meet with the secretary. 

Hegseth: the focus of criticism

Since taking office, Hegseth has taken controversial steps. In May he ordered a 20% reduction of four-star generals, followed by an additional 10% cut in all general and flag officers.

He also instructed the National Guard to eliminate a fifth of its senior posts. In February, he dismissed Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s top officer, and General James Slife, the Air Force’s second-highest-ranking officer, without explanation. Subsequent firings included senior military lawyers and a general overseeing military intelligence. 

Hegseth’s leadership style has sparked internal friction, especially after Donald Trump signed an executive order in September allowing the Pentagon to also operate under the name “Department of War.” Since then, Hegseth has adopted the title “Secretary of War,”

although legally he remains Secretary of Defense, as only Congress can change the position’s official name. 

Despite limited high-level experience —he served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantánamo as an Army National Guard officer after graduating from Princeton in 2003— Hegseth has earned Trump’s trust. His bold, sometimes abrupt decisions have unsettled the U.S. milita