In an extraordinary move, War Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered hundreds of America’s highest-ranking military leaders to gather in Virginia next week—a rare, in-person meeting that Pentagon officials describe as highly unusual.
War Department sources confirmed to Fox News that generals and admirals from across the globe have been told to report for the gathering, though the exact agenda remains under wraps. The Pentagon acknowledged the event but declined to provide details.
“The Secretary of War will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week,” chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a brief statement.
What makes this meeting stand out is not just its size—nearly 800 generals and admirals are stationed worldwide—but that such discussions are typically held via secure teleconference. The secrecy surrounding the gathering has fueled speculation that Hegseth is preparing to press forward with his controversial plan to slash senior ranks.
Earlier this year, Hegseth announced his “less generals, more GIs” initiative, calling for a 20% cut to top officers. In May, he directed the removal of roughly 100 generals and admirals, along with a 10% reduction in general and flag officers across all branches. His aim: reduce what he sees as an oversized top brass and bring the ratio of generals-to-troops closer to that of World War II, when there was one general per 6,000 soldiers. Today, the ratio stands at about one general for every 1,400 service members.
Currently, 44 four-star and flag officers serve across the military. Under Hegseth’s plan, that number will shrink significantly.
This sweeping personnel change is unfolding as the administration prepares a new national defense strategy, shifting focus from the Indo-Pacific toward homeland defense. That strategy is expected to drive a worldwide review of U.S. troop deployments, potentially reshaping America’s military footprint across the globe.
