WASHINGTON, DC — Hundreds of generals and admirals stationed across the globe have been ordered to report to Virginia next week for a meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to several U.S. officials. The sudden gathering, scheduled for Tuesday at Quantico, has raised questions and sparked unease within the Pentagon.
Officials told CNN that the purpose of the assembly remains unclear, even to the general and flag officers themselves. The abrupt directive, added to the calendar with little explanation, is viewed as highly unusual in military circles.
Speculation has been swirling, ranging from the possibility of a large-scale fitness assessment to a sweeping restructuring of the Department of Defense, or even mass firings. “It’s being referred to as the general squid games,” one official said with dark humor.
Security concerns have also been raised. “Unless this is to announce a major military campaign or a complete overhaul of command, I can’t imagine a good reason for concentrating this many high-ranking officers in one place,” a congressional aide noted.
The Pentagon confirmed that Hegseth will “address his senior military leaders early next week,” but declined to provide details on the agenda or whether every one-star and above officer was required to attend.
A Pattern of Shake-Ups
The meeting comes as the Trump administration, with Hegseth at the helm of the Pentagon, has overseen an aggressive campaign of dismissals targeting senior officers. Since January, multiple top leaders have been removed, often under the banner of Hegseth’s push to curb diversity programs, though some dismissals have been unexplained.
Those ousted include former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown; Adm. Lisa Franchetti, former Chief of Naval Operations; Adm. Linda Fagan, former Commandant of the Coast Guard; Gen. James Slife, former Air Force vice chief; Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency; Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore, former chief of the Navy Reserve; and Rear Adm. Milton Sands, former commander of Naval Special Warfare.
Hegseth has long been critical of the military’s senior ranks. Before taking office, he publicly accused a third of generals and admirals of being “actively complicit” in politicizing the armed forces. On another occasion, he argued that top brass were “playing by all the wrong rules” to appease Washington’s political establishment.
Whether this unprecedented gathering signals another round of sweeping changes or a new directive for the armed forces remains to be seen. For now, what is certain is that next week’s closed-door meeting at Quantico has become one of the most closely watched developments inside the Pentagon.
By Midtown Times Staff, Adapted from CNN reporting
