Hegseth Announces Military Purge, New AI Command, and Religious Affairs Office

Retired U.S. Army General Randy Manner accused Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth of playing “Russian roulette” with national security and being “incompetent” for purging military leaders.

Manner stated Hegseth has fired 80 generals and admirals based on gender, race, or association with General Mark Milley. On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Hegseth announced additional 10 percent cuts to positions for generals and admirals, following 10 percent cuts last year, totaling a 20 percent reduction across the board. Hegseth called these actions “accountability and long overdue” during a speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

He told troops that those who “clung to the 'woke department' ... no longer work here,” adding, “The ideological clowns are out. The patriotic cowboys are in with testosterone testing on top. Diversity is not our strength. Unity is our strength.” Hegseth also used terms like “No fatties, no trannies, no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps, no radicals” to describe who should not serve.

The cuts are expected to be completed by January 1 next year. There are currently 841 active-duty generals and admirals. Hegseth also unveiled six new initiatives, including a new four-star Autonomous Warfare Command (AUTOWARCOM) to integrate drone technologies and artificial intelligence, expected to be fully established by October 1, 2027. An interim program, Project Agincourt, will run for the next year under Owen West and Max Strasiser.

Hegseth announced Project Meridian, a 120-day study group on future warfare, co-led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Anduril CEO Palmer Luckey, and former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Emil Michael, the Pentagon’s head of technology, will also oversee Project Meridian. The Secretary established a new Office of Religious Affairs within the Pentagon, which will report directly to him and advocate for religious support.

Hegseth, a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelicals Churches (CREC), stated the Pentagon has a “sacred duty” to provide “first-class religious support.” He also announced “Fortress America,” a supply initiative for base energy independence, and “The Next Great American Base,” a competition for states to propose land for a new military installation.