Hegseth described the action as “accountability and long overdue,” linking it to his broader plan to retool the service. He said the cuts target what he calls “woke” culture, and they are accompanied by a rollback of diversity programs and a new testosterone‑deficiency screening for male personnel.

In the same address, Hegseth announced a new four‑star command that will supervise autonomous and robotic capabilities, which he called the fastest peacetime shift in modern military history.

The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from members of Congress. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly called the reductions a “purge” that will take a generation to recover, while Republican Sen. Mike Rounds said he wants to see the reasoning behind the decision.

Supporters argue that trimming senior ranks forces the service to focus on performance and to modernise its force structure for emerging technologies. Opponents worry that losing experienced leaders could weaken readiness as the military faces complex global challenges.