WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is considering summoning hundreds of senior military leaders back to Marine Corps Base Quantico for a second all‑hands address this year, U.S. officials told WSJ.
Last September, the surprise gathering of every general and admiral — convened with no stated agenda and on short notice — drew stone-faced officers and a muted response. Hegseth used it to roll out his “no more beardos” grooming-and-standards overhaul and 11 new Pentagon memoranda.
This time, officials say, Hegseth would likely outline fresh priorities and release a new set of directives to the force. The Pentagon refused to confirm: “We have nothing to announce at this time.”
Critics say Hegseth is steering the services in an overtly partisan direction. Whether President Trump attends the second iteration is unclear.