US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the American military, announcing a new four-star command dedicated to autonomous and robotic warfare and confirming a 20 percent cut to general and flag officer positions.
Hegseth made the announcements during his "State of the Force" address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday, where he spoke to junior officers and enlisted leaders. It was the second year in a row he has delivered such an address.
New command for autonomous warfare
The Pentagon chief said the new command will oversee the rollout of autonomous and robotic capabilities in what he called "the fastest peacetime shift in modern military history." The move comes as uncrewed systems play an ever-larger role on battlefields worldwide.
General-officer cuts doubled
Hegseth directed all military services to double the 10 percent reduction he ordered last spring for roughly 800 flag and general officer positions, taking the total cut to 20 percent. The reductions are to be completed by January 1, 2027. "I call it accountability and long overdue," he said, according to the Associated Press.
The announcement drew immediate criticism from some lawmakers. Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a former Navy combat pilot, described the reductions as a "purge," while Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota said he wanted to understand Hegseth's reasoning before judging the plan.
Hegseth's address comes as the US military is seven months into a war with Iran, has captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and has killed more than 200 people in strikes on boats accused of drug trafficking in Latin America, according to the report.
Sources: US Military Will Cut 20% Of Its Generals, Admirals — NDTV; US defense chief unveils drone command — Arab News
Hegseth made the announcements during his "State of the Force" address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday, where he spoke to junior officers and enlisted leaders. It was the second year in a row he has delivered such an address.
New command for autonomous warfare
The Pentagon chief said the new command will oversee the rollout of autonomous and robotic capabilities in what he called "the fastest peacetime shift in modern military history." The move comes as uncrewed systems play an ever-larger role on battlefields worldwide.
General-officer cuts doubled
Hegseth directed all military services to double the 10 percent reduction he ordered last spring for roughly 800 flag and general officer positions, taking the total cut to 20 percent. The reductions are to be completed by January 1, 2027. "I call it accountability and long overdue," he said, according to the Associated Press.
The announcement drew immediate criticism from some lawmakers. Democratic Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, a former Navy combat pilot, described the reductions as a "purge," while Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota said he wanted to understand Hegseth's reasoning before judging the plan.
Hegseth's address comes as the US military is seven months into a war with Iran, has captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and has killed more than 200 people in strikes on boats accused of drug trafficking in Latin America, according to the report.
Sources: US Military Will Cut 20% Of Its Generals, Admirals — NDTV; US defense chief unveils drone command — Arab News
