Pentagon on Edge as Hegseth Summons Rare Gathering of Generals, Admirals to Quantico

Unprecedented Quantico meeting raises speculation after major shakeups in top military leadership

Natalie C. Frank, Ph.D September 25, 2025

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth; Creator/YouTube Screenshot

QUANTICO, VA - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered an unusual gathering of the nation’s top generals and admirals, calling them to Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia next Tuesday, according to five U.S. officials familiar with the plans. Two of those officials said they didn’t know what prompted such a large meeting of senior military leaders, which could include hundreds of participants.

Bringing together general and flag officers from across the services and from both domestic and overseas posts is rare, especially with the secretary of defense in attendance. The meeting’s size has already sparked questions in military and political circles about its purpose and possible implications.

The move follows Hegseth’s decision months ago to cut the number of four-star officers by 20 percent and remove 15 high-ranking officials from their posts. Those dismissed included Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown Jr., the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, who had been the Navy’s top admiral.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the event, saying, “The Secretary of War will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week.” Parnell used the title “Secretary of War” in line with President Donald Trump’s recent executive order renaming the Department of Defense, an order that does not have full legal effect because a permanent change would still require congressional approval.

According to Pentagon figures from June, the U.S. military currently has 838 general officers and admirals on active duty, 446 of whom hold two-star rank or higher. It’s unclear whether the Quantico gathering will include the full roster or only a selected group.

Normally, the defense secretary meets senior leaders in smaller settings, often at the Pentagon or during scheduled travel. Twice a year, combatant commanders come to Washington for consultations. What makes next week’s meeting unusual is not just its size but its scope, which some officials say raises logistical and security concerns. The unprecedented scale has sparked speculation about whether the gathering is tied to Hegseth’s campaign to reshape military leadership.

In May, Hegseth issued a directive calling for a “minimum” 20 percent reduction in four-star generals and admirals. The same order sought a 20 percent cut in National Guard general officers and at least a 10 percent reduction in general and flag officers tied to combatant commands.

He backed the directive with a video message calling it the “Less Generals More GIs Policy.” In both the memo and the video, Hegseth said the restructuring was needed to “drive innovation and operational excellence, unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that hinder their growth and effectiveness.” He added, “A critical step in this process is removing redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions.”

With the meeting set for next week, military leaders are left wondering whether Hegseth will unveil more reforms or simply restate his vision for reshaping the nation’s command structure. For now, the unusual gathering highlights the defense secretary’s willingness to upend decades of established norms in pursuit of a leaner chain of command.