Hegseth targets military’s top brass for deeper cuts, unveils creation of a new command to integrate drone tech and AI in speech to troops

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday unveiled six new initiatives together with the creation of a brand new four-star “AUTOWARCOM” command that may combine fast-developing autonomous drone applied sciences and synthetic intelligence and a non secular affairs workplace.

On the high of his remarks, Hegseth confirmed reviews that 20% of essentially the most senior navy ranks — common and flag officer slots — could be going away.

He stated these have been penalties for the ten% of those generals and admirals “who clung to the Woke Division” and handled civilian management of the navy as a “suggestion.”

There are at present 841 active-duty generals and admirals, in line with Protection Division information.

Pacing forwards and backwards throughout the stage on the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, Hegseth addressed 600 service members, together with non-commissioned officers and junior officers, in what he known as a “State of the Pressure” tackle. It was harking back to the speech he gave to generals a yr in the past on the identical location.

“The quantity crunchers say we fired 10% of the generals and admirals throughout the pressure, and that quantity sounds about proper,” Hegseth stated. “And I do know as a result of I directed it … We have additionally decreased the general variety of common officer slots by an extra 10%. So, sure, 20% discount throughout the board. The media calls {that a} purge; I name that accountability and lengthy overdue.” 

The transfer follows a broader purge of the navy’s senior ranks beneath Hegseth, who has fired or sidelined a string of high officers with out publicly explaining the rationale. Among them was Gen. Randy George, who was eliminated because the Military’s high officer; Gen. CQ Brown, who was fired as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Workers; and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who was eliminated as chief of naval operations.

Earlier than leaving the administration in September, then-Military Secretary Dan Driscoll repeatedly warned the White Home that Hegseth’s removing of senior officers and efforts to dam others from advancing have been thinning the Military’s management ranks, in line with individuals acquainted with the scenario. Driscoll instructed Trump the strikes have been leaving the service with a smaller pool of skilled officers to fill future senior instructions.

Among the many refrains in Hegseth’s speech have been cultural points, from ideology to faith. 

“We’d like college students of Western civilization and the pillars of our republic, leaders who perceive the religion of Jerusalem, the philosophy of Athens, the ability of Rome, and the liberty of Philadelphia, circa 1776,” he stated.

The secretary unveiled an Workplace of Spiritual Affairs with “a direct line to the secretary.”

Hegseth didn’t clarify what that workplace would do. 

“Our division is, you would possibly say, placing on the complete armor of God.”

Hegseth reprised themes he has raised prior to now: criticizing DEI and the media as “reckless” and treasonous throughout a time of struggle. He targeted on common officers who’ve been in fight and rising the lethality of the U.S. navy. 

Hegseth criticized American journalists disparaging their reporting as amounting to “treason.”

“A free press is, in fact, necessary, however partisan activism that deliberately smears the troops and the historic mission that they are endeavor is essentially anti-American. It is sick. It is a nationwide betrayal. It is treason,” he stated.

Hegseth criticized DEI packages he stated created “politically right quotas” that resulted in troops being led by “weak weirdos.”  

Hegseth additionally introduced the creation of AUTOWARCOM, which stands for Autonomous Warfighting Command, to combine fast-developing autonomous drone applied sciences and synthetic intelligence. The command shall be led by a four-star common, he stated.

He additionally introduced that Elon Musk, former Home Speaker Newt Gingrich and Anduril’s Palmer Luckey would take part in a brand new “Undertaking Meridien” that might be “an effort led by America’s finest minds to check the way forward for warfare.”

The secretary stated the U.S. would construct a brand new base within the U.S. for the primary time in 40 years. He known as on governors to “to step as much as the plate and produce us their finest gross sales pitch” because the Pentagon deliberates the place to construct the bottom.

Hegseth additionally stated it will be a precedence for the Pentagon to wean bases off of civilian energy grids for nationwide safety functions. 

“Each main navy set up in America goes to generate its personal energy, unbiased of the civilian grid. If an adversary takes down the grid by cyber assault, by sabotage or by any means, our bases keep lit, our plane maintain flying, our command facilities by no means go darkish,” Hegseth stated.

The Military has been eyeing this problem already and is within the early phases of placing micronuclear reactors on a few of its bases.

The speech comes after Hegseth’s appearance at Quantico last year, when he abruptly summoned the navy’s high brass from world wide and used the tackle to rail in opposition to what he framed as declining requirements, equally demanding there could be “no extra beardos” and “no extra fats generals.”

A lot of that speech was additionally dedicated to culture-war grievances.

“No extra id months, DEI places of work, dudes in attire,” Hegseth declared final September to a room stuffed with the navy’s high leaders.

On the time, the Pentagon additionally directed all of its troops to look at the video of the speech.