Hegseth confirms plan to cut 20% of US top military brass and rails at ‘beardos, weirdos and wimps’
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has announced plans to reduce the number of top military generals and admirals by 20%. He also used inflammatory language to criticize diversity initiatives and current military culture, emphasizing a focus on 'lethality' and 'readiness'.
Why it matters
The proposed cuts and rhetoric represent a significant shift in US military leadership and policy, sparking debate over diversity and institutional culture.
The secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, gestures after giving a State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday. Photograph: Alex Wong/Pool Getty Images North America/AP The secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, gestures after giving a State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday. Photograph: Alex Wong/Pool Getty Images North America/AP US military Hegseth confirms plan to cut 20% of US top military brass and rails at ‘beardos, weirdos and wimps’ Amid latest extraordinary attack on diversity, US defense secretary also suggests military is retaining service personnel at ‘record’ rates
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