Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth laid out plans for a significant restructuring of the U.S. military's top leadership and its approach to new technology, speaking at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia.
Hegseth has spent his time in office pushing to streamline the Pentagon's famously large officer corps and to speed up the adoption of newer battlefield technology, arguing that the military needs to move faster to keep pace with how warfare is changing, particularly the growing role of drones observed in recent conflicts around the world. Previous defense secretaries in both parties have periodically proposed trimming the ranks of generals and admirals, though such plans have often moved slowly given the complexity of military promotion systems and the number of committees involved in approving changes.
On Monday, Hegseth announced the creation of a new Autonomous Warfare Command, referred to inside the building as AutoWarCom, which will be responsible for getting more drones into the hands of regular troops. He also confirmed plans to cut the number of generals and admirals by 20 percent, alongside new investment earmarked for drones, weapons systems, and base security. Hegseth framed the changes as part of a broader cultural shift at the Pentagon toward a leaner, more technology-forward force, rather than simply a cost-cutting exercise.
The announcement is likely to be closely watched both inside the military, where it will affect career paths for senior officers, and by defense contractors who stand to benefit from increased drone and weapons spending. It follows a period in which the administration has emphasized modernization as a central theme of its defense policy, alongside the broader military buildup already underway in the Middle East.
Details on the timeline for the officer reductions and how the new Autonomous Warfare Command will be staffed and funded are expected in the coming weeks.
What will the Autonomous Warfare Command do?
It is intended to oversee getting more drone technology directly into the hands of troops.
When will the officer cuts take effect?
A specific timeline has not yet been announced.