28.09.2025 Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s surprise gathering of hundreds of generals and admirals in Virginia next week is being called so he can describe the administration’s reinvention of the Department of Defense as the “Department of War” and outline new standards for military personnel, according to half a dozen people familiar with the planning.

🚨Update: War Department – ALL US Military Generals and Admirals from across the globe are ordered to report on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, to the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, 30 miles south of the Pentagon!! First time in history this has ever happened….. pic.twitter.com/9NscyzgLqj

— US Homeland Security News (@defense_civil25) September 28, 2025

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Hegseth has summoned U.S. generals and admirals from around the world to a meeting in Quantico, Virginia, on September 30, Tuesday, an unusual gathering of the country’s military leadership in one location.

“It’s meant to be a show of force of what the new military now looks like under the president,” a White House official told CNN.

The meeting is expected to resemble “a pep rally” where Hegseth will underscore the importance of the “warrior ethos” and outline a new vision for the US military, said three of the sources. He is expected to discuss new readiness, fitness and grooming standards the officers are expected to adhere to and enforce.

“It’s about getting the horses into the stable and whipping them into shape,” said a defense official familiar with the planning. “And the guys with the stars on their shoulders make for a better audience from an optics standpoint. This is a showcase for Hegseth to tell them: get on board, or potentially have your career shortened.”

egseth’s team is planning on recording his speech and releasing it publicly later, three of the sources said, and the White House is planning to amplify it, the White House official said.

At present there were no plans for Hegseth to make a major national security-related announcement as part of the meeting, all of the sources said, making it even more surprising that he has ordered the officers to attend in person and leave their posts for what will essentially be a major speech.

Leaks Show Hegseth’s Selfish Reason for Calling in Generals https://t.co/Ifm2yJprXu via @thedailybeast

— Anna van Densky (@AnnaVanDensky) September 28, 2025

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As of now, there isn’t expected to be a weapons showcase for the officers as President Donald Trump suggested, according to the White House official and one of the sources familiar with the planning. Trump is not currently planning to be involved or attend the meeting in Quantico, two officials told.