Military leaders voice concern over Hegseth's new Pentagon strategy
Source: Washington Post
September 29, 2025 at 6:58 p.m. EDT
Military leaders have raised serious concerns with the Trump administrations forthcoming defense strategy, exposing a divide between the Pentagons political and uniformed leadership as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summons top brass to a highly unusual summit in Virginia on Tuesday, according to eight current and former officials.
The critiques from multiple top officers, including Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, come as Hegseth reorders U.S. military priorities centering the Pentagon on perceived threats to the homeland, narrowing U.S. competition with China, and downplaying Americas role in Europe and Africa.
President Donald Trump will attend the abrupt gathering of general and admirals at Marine Corps Base Quantico, where Hegseth is expected to deliver remarks on military standards and the warrior ethos, even as uniformed leaders fear mass firings or a drastic reorganization of the combatant command structure and the military hierarchy.
The debate over the National Defense Strategy the Pentagons primary guide for how it prioritizes resources and positions U.S. forces around the world is the latest challenge for top military officials navigating the Trump administrations unorthodox approach to the armed forces.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/09/29/hegseth-national-defense-strategy-trump-dissent/
No paywall (gift)

Autumn
(48,401 posts)BumRushDaShow
(160,898 posts)and Secretaries that like the civilian feds, they yawn and say "next" after complaining about them, and their "GS-1000s" who want to "rock the boat" too much.
I know as a retired civilian civil service employee, I served under 6 Presidents and who knows how many Department and Agency heads (since there was almost always some revolving door of them), although obviously this current set are a bunch of fucking loons.
ancianita
(42,019 posts)Not only do commanders have university PhD levels of education, but they have the entire of human history from which to learn military science.
US Military generals are among the most educated elite of the world. What the worst US Military general knows is a universe more than anything Hegseth or this felon commander-in-chief has learned since the day either was born.
Autumn
(48,401 posts)Collins graduated Phi Beta Kappa from St. Lawrence University. What have the military leaders done to rein in that SOB Trump other than share their concern on the DL?
ancianita
(42,019 posts)You act as if you don't know how either military command or civilian command even work.
Maybe read something...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_control_of_the_military
Autumn
(48,401 posts)of a bitch who is tearing up the constitution and ending Americas democracy. other than be concerned a la Susan Collins ?
ancianita
(42,019 posts)It's clear you haven't even read the links.
Autumn
(48,401 posts)ancianita
(42,019 posts)Gimpyknee
(737 posts)Whats your secret?
Hekate
(99,607 posts)your fortitude and persistence. Some people will have learned from you, even if one will not.
sop
(16,219 posts)Just "unothodox"? Maybe if Putin showed up to the meeting and took command of our armed forced our corporate media would take this seriously?
Bernardo de La Paz
(58,951 posts)Irish_Dem
(75,501 posts)chowder66
(11,351 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(58,951 posts)White males especially themselves. They think (echos of 1950s GM) "what's good for white males is good for the country (and my bank account)".
Irish_Dem
(75,501 posts)Saudi, NK, China, Russia, etc.
ETA: They are doing a wonderful job.
chowder66
(11,351 posts)Irish_Dem
(75,501 posts)ananda
(33,396 posts)into a clusterfuck like everything else he turns his hand to
ancianita
(42,019 posts)find ways to stop this restructuring by proving it will be a threat to national security. They already know a whole lot more classified intel than these two blustering losers.
If they threaten, the generals will play 'following orders,' and then slow down the process.
Bayard
(27,172 posts)What a great idea to put all of our top military brass, and the prez, in one big room.
Javaman
(64,556 posts)MayReasonRule
(3,855 posts)KS Toronado
(21,395 posts)CONGRESSMEN WHO PROTECT PEDOPHILES
.....DON'T DESERVE TO BE CONGRESSMEN
Lovie777
(20,495 posts)We the People are not safe here nor abroad.
The out of control cabinet puts us further into shambles as well the 6 assholes justices in the US SC.