Hegseth Summons 800 Generals, Admirals to Quantico

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a rare, short‑notice assembly of roughly 800 U.S. generals and admirals (O‑7 through O‑10) and their senior enlisted advisers to convene next week at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. The directive targets commanders in command positions worldwide — including leaders in Europe, the Middle East and the Asia‑Pacific — and has disrupted schedules, forced travel changes and prompted security and operational concerns because such large gatherings are usually handled by secure videoconference. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth “will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week,” but the department declined to provide specifics on the agenda or purpose. The summons comes amid Hegseth’s rapid reshaping of the Defense Department, including recent dismissals of senior officers and orders to cut the number of high‑ranking leaders, and has prompted widespread speculation, including unconfirmed theories about possible mass firings.