Multiple War Department officials confirmed to Fox News that top military commanders have been directed to travel to Virginia next week for a high-level meeting, though the specific agenda remains unclear.
The Pentagon acknowledged the planned gathering but offered no details about the purpose.
“The Secretary of War will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week,” chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.
Such an in-person meeting is rare, as senior officers — roughly 800 generals and admirals spread across the United States and around the globe — are usually briefed through secure video conferences. The unusual size and scope have prompted speculation among some military insiders about possible major personnel changes.
Those concerns stem in part from War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s stated goal of streamlining the top ranks. Hegseth has previously said he wants to cut 20% of senior generals and admirals.
The directive, first reported by The Washington Post, would affect senior officers holding the rank of brigadier general or above — or their Navy equivalents — as well as their top enlisted advisers.
In May, Hegseth ordered a reduction of about 100 generals and admirals, along with at least a 20% cut to four-star officers. He also called for a 10% reduction across all general and flag officer positions.
Hegseth has argued the current structure is top-heavy, pointing to the fact that there are 44 four-star and flag officers overseeing a force where the ratio is about one general per 1,400 troops. By contrast, during World War II there was roughly one general per 6,000 troops.
This push comes as the administration finalizes a new national defense strategy that shift
