Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Considers Firing Senior Military Officials Amid Pentagon Overhaul
Washington, D.C. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly considering a significant shake-up of the U.S. military leadership, with plans to fire or remove a number of senior generals and officers as early as this week, according to multiple U.S. and congressional officials.
A confidential list of officials who could be dismissed has reportedly circulated on Capitol Hill, stirring speculation about the future direction of the Pentagon under Hegseth’s leadership. NBC News first reported the existence of the list on Wednesday, further fueling discussions about potential military leadership changes.
The moves come as part of an ongoing push by the Trump administration to reshape the Department of Defense (DOD) and its priorities, including targeting officials perceived to be aligned with “woke” ideologies. In November, ahead of his confirmation as Defense Secretary, Hegseth was vocal about his desire to remove those who supported diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which he views as detrimental to military readiness.
In a November interview on the “Shawn Ryan Show,” Hegseth said, “First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. But any general that was involved…in any of the DEI woke s— has got to go. Either you’re in for warfighting, and that’s it. That’s the only litmus test we care about.”
Since his confirmation as Secretary of Defense, Hegseth’s stance appeared to soften slightly. During his first official day at the Pentagon on January 27, 2025, he publicly expressed support for General C.Q. Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The two were seen exchanging pleasantries as Brown saluted Hegseth’s motorcade upon arrival at the Pentagon.
“I’m standing with him right now,” Hegseth remarked, referring to General Brown. “I look forward to working with him.”
Despite this more cordial tone, it remains unclear whether General Brown or other top military officials are included on the list of potential removals. Sources within the Pentagon and Capitol Hill have indicated that the list of names circulating in Washington is still in flux.
Beyond personnel changes, Hegseth is also spearheading a broader budgetary overhaul. According to multiple sources, a memo was sent to DOD offices and agencies instructing them to redirect 8% of the Pentagon’s budget for fiscal years 2026 and beyond toward President Trump’s priorities, including border security, military modernization, and a reduction of government DEI programs.
The memo, which was confirmed by acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert G. Salesses, also outlined plans to identify budgetary offsets from the Biden administration’s fiscal 2026 budget. These funds would be reallocated to support the president’s “America First” defense priorities, which include enhancing military capabilities and curtailing what the administration sees as wasteful or unnecessary spending on non-defense programs.
“Through our budgets, the Department of Defense will once again resource warfighting and cease unnecessary spending that set our military back under the previous administration, including through so-called ‘climate change’ and other woke programs, as well as excessive bureaucracy,” Salesses said in a statement. “The time for preparation is over — we must act swiftly to deter current and impending threats and make the best use of taxpayers’ dollars in doing so.”
The ongoing personnel review and budgetary changes reflect a broader effort by the Trump administration to align the Pentagon with its vision of national defense, which prioritizes military readiness and a more streamlined, politically conservative approach to governance.
As Hegseth moves forward with his plans, military and congressional observers will be closely watching whether these personnel changes and budget shifts materialize and how they will shape the future of the U.S. military.
