[UPDATE] GOP senators ask for rationale behind Hegseth's 20% cut to generals; Democrats call it a purge
Republican defense senators want Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's reasoning before they back his 20% cut to generals. That doubles the 10% cut he ordered in May 2025. "I certainly want to see his rationale in detail, and I don't have that yet," said Ted Budd (Sen-R North Carolina). Democrats call it a purge. Ro Khanna (Rep-D California) urged a vote on Thomas Massie's (Rep-R Kentucky) resolution to remove Hegseth.
PREVIOUSLY
- Sep. 3 — The Pentagon pulled decades of Defense Secretary orders off its classified SIPR network.
- Sep. 30 — Hegseth announced a 20% cut in general and admiral posts by Jan. 1, 2027, up from the 10% cut he ordered in May 2025.
- Oct. 1 — He confirmed the cut removes positions, not people, ordered a four-star drone command and called munitions reporting "treason."
What Democrats are reacting to:
- Hegseth at Quantico: "no fatties, no trannies, no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps, no radicals, just warriors."
- Khanna called it an "illegal, immoral Holy war" after Hegseth announced a new Office of Religious Affairs.