Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has summoned a significant number of generals and admirals to a meeting at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, scheduled for next Tuesday. This gathering is notable for its size, potentially involving hundreds of senior military leaders from both domestic and overseas postings. According to multiple U.S. officials, the reasons behind this unusual assembly remain unclear.

The meeting comes months after Hegseth ordered a 20% reduction in the number of four-star generals and admirals. He has also removed 15 senior military officers from their positions, including Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown, Jr., the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Navy's top admiral. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that Hegseth will address his senior military leaders during this meeting.

The Pentagon currently has 838 active-duty general officers and admirals, with 446 holding two-star, three-star, or four-star ranks, according to the latest statistics. It remains uncertain whether all general and flag officers will be invited or if the meeting will only include a select group.

This type of large-scale meeting is rare, especially with the defense secretary present. While it is common for defense secretaries to meet with senior military officers at the Pentagon or during their travels, the scale of this meeting raises security concerns for planners. Typically, senior officers in charge of U.S. combatant commands meet with the secretary twice a year at the Pentagon.

The timing of the meeting has led to speculation regarding its connection to Hegseth's recent actions aimed at reducing the number of high-ranking officers. In May, he issued a memo mandating a minimum 20% reduction in four-star generals and admirals across the active-duty force. He also called for a 20% reduction in general officers within the National Guard and a 10% reduction among general and flag officers associated with combatant commands.

In a video accompanying the memo, Hegseth referred to this initiative as a "Less Generals More GIs Policy." He emphasized the need for this order to "drive innovation and operational excellence, unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that hinder their growth and effectiveness." Hegseth stated that a critical step in this process involves removing redundant force structures to optimize and streamline leadership by reducing excess general and flag officer positions.