Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has unexpectedly summoned hundreds of U.S. military generals and admirals from around the world for a meeting next week, sparking concern among top military officials. The gathering’s purpose remains unknown, but it comes after Hegseth recently fired several senior officers, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, and ordered significant reductions in four-star officers.
The meeting is unusual in that many lower-ranking generals and admirals are being called to attend, some of whom work in active conflict zones. This has raised security concerns, as convening such a large number of senior officers in one place would typically be a rare occurrence. The event also comes after Hegseth recently restricted public engagement by military officials.
Hegseth’s actions have sparked controversy, particularly among those who fired him say that he wants to consolidate the military’s war-fighting commands and pare the number of generals and admirals there. The meeting will provide an opportunity for him to address his senior military leaders early next week, but details remain scarce.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/us/politics/hegseth-generals-admirals-summoned.html