Hegseth confirms that the US military will cut 20% of its generals and admirals

[u/Manta_of_Eternity]

https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-pentagon-generals-job-cuts-67a20b026ee858895c7e5ff7fadbc029

[u/Vhu]

> “Hegseth told reporters Monday that the removals were necessary because he didn't want them to pose any "roadblocks to orders that are given by a commander in chief."

Relevant quote from when Hegeseth fired the TJAGS for every branch of the military as soon as Trump took office. Those were the top lawyers who advise military commanders on the lawfulness of orders.

This is just a continuation of the loyalty purges. Same coup, still going strong.

[u/AmazingSugar1 → u/Vhu]

He straight up stated the intention, it’s about obedience.

[u/NotPrepared2 → u/AmazingSugar1]

It's about blind obedience.

[u/theClumsy1 → u/Vhu]

Thats incredibly dangerous language being used as justification.

Roadblocks to orders??

[u/Vhu → u/theClumsy1]

Absolutely.

There’s a reason that the DOD and DOJ tried to prosecute sitting US congressmen for reminding service members that they can refuse illegal orders. They’re getting rid of the people who might take that route.

[u/Cynykl → u/Vhu]

The very first person that should be prosecuted when the Maga loses control of the DOJ back is not Trump or any of the usual suspects. It is the guy that flew the plane that sunk the so called cartel boat.

I am not saying to delay getting Trump for that guy. You can prosecute multiple people that the same time. But use that guy as the first public announcement.

I think Hitting the poster child for "just following order" first would have a huge psychological impact on the and set the tenor for the prosecutions to come.

[u/rabbidbunnyz222 → u/Cynykl]

Which one? We've killed nearly 100 people in the Caribbean since Trump took office

[u/brakeb → u/rabbidbunnyz222]

all of them. Send them to the Hague

[u/stunkape → u/Vhu]

Hegseth also gutted the Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response program, despite all generals opposing the move. 

[u/Different_Wolf_764 → u/Vhu]

It was pretty soft language even then. It's not that they can, it is that they must refuse illegal orders, as the Nazis eventually found out as well. "I was just following orders" doesn't exculpate anyone.

[u/SPzero65 → u/theClumsy1]

They're going to invade Canada, aren't they?

[u/R-Dragon_Thunderzord → u/SPzero65]

First they're going to coup the vote.

[u/spectre78 → u/R-Dragon_Thunderzord]

Yep, the first invasion won’t be a long ride from HQ

[u/Red_Dox → u/SPzero65]

Or Cuba. Or Greenland. Or Spain. Or Falklands. It is not like King Trump the first, is lacking targets for his spiteful attitude. Maybe if enough people are replaced by loyalists he also can finally nuke hurricanes.

[u/IcedGooseMaverick → u/Vhu]

Fucking hell, this fascist train just won’t stop. We’re gonna be stuck on this thing til it derails. 

[u/HarmoniousJ → u/IcedGooseMaverick]

I mean, is everyone forgetting the process of it? Eventually, even sycophants start getting murked.

It's simply a matter of time before the tail eats itself and almost everyone along with it.

[u/TheRedditorHasNoName → u/Vhu]

They don’t want any roadblocks for the next January 6th.

[u/One-Inch-Punch → u/Vhu]

This is it guys, this is the administration outright announcing plans for a military-backed takeover of government.

[u/Spire_Citron → u/Vhu]

Crazy how they just openly state that a significant chunk of military leadership is refusing their orders.

[u/ThouHastLostAn8th → u/Vhu]

Similar to how Hegseth decimated the Pentagon's Civilian Harm Mitigation units and has been blocking what's left from doing their jobs:

https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2026-iran-school-attack/

Officials involved in the investigation pointed to gaps that they said were left after Hegseth dismantled most of the Pentagon’s civilian harm mitigation, or CHM, units — cutting headcount across a number of teams by roughly 90% to fewer than 20 staff members, people with direct knowledge of the matter said. Centcom’s team was reduced from 10 to 1.

No CHM team member reviewed the Minab site before the strike, according to officials involved in the internal investigation. That was a consequence of the cuts in staffing but also a decision not to involve the group in planning and operations, the officials said.

[u/newfor_2026 → u/Vhu]

typical dictatorship behavior.

[u/OakLegs → u/Vhu]

This is coming off the heels of news that Trump gave Hesgeth power to monitor elections.

[u/thelastgalstanding → u/Vhu]

This should send the bad kind of chills up and down everyone’s spine.

[u/Kingkillwatts → u/Vhu]

Frighteningly transparent. They’re too lazy to even make an excuse up.

[u/Winter_Desk_443]

So the military budget can be lowered, right?

[u/ItsAWonderfulFife → u/Winter_Desk_443]

No this is all going to be very expensive

[u/kniq86 → u/ItsAWonderfulFife]

These types of changes reduce our capabilities in the short term. By the time we have the bandwidth to properly identify how we can continue to function, shit's so fucked up that we have to go at least part of the way back to how it was to try to fix things. Of course, those people with experience and acumen aren't directly replaceable by just promoting the next person who survived the purge, so we continue trending downward. 

Not completely unrepairable, but completely unreasoned, unnecessary, self-inflicted damage to our national defense and diplomatic capability that, as Sen. Kelly pointed out, will take a generation to recover from.

[u/Starsky686 → u/Winter_Desk_443]

It’s to remove dissension, not cost.

[u/MaximumEffort433]

So not only have we whittled away our munitions stockpiles fighting the dumbest war in American history, we're also cutting our military's institutional knowledge to the bone.

Our armed forces aren't just going to be weaker, they're also going to be dumber.

And we killed American soft power by nuking USAID and alienating all our allies.

Swell. Fantastic. Nice.

[u/Kradget → u/MaximumEffort433]

It's always a good sign when your government starts purging the military leadership on the basis of political loyalty. Historically, that guess super good for everyone.

[u/lennybriscoforthewin → u/Kradget]

Especially before an election that your party might lose.

[u/Anitapoop → u/lennybriscoforthewin]

Welp remains to be seen, but at the same time gotta get out there and vote en mass. We really suck at doing that other than maybe 1/3.

[u/Ariana2354 → u/lennybriscoforthewin]

Exactly. Trump has been talking about declaring martial law on election day.

[u/lantrick → u/Ariana2354]

declaring martial law on election day wouldn't stop the 50 states from opening the polls at 7AM like always.

[u/Arctic_Chilean → u/Kradget]

This is how they make the military do some truly horrible shit like invade Greenland or fire on their own citizens...

[u/Violet_Paradox → u/MaximumEffort433]

They don't need competence to massacre civilians at protests, just obedience. They want a military that won't even blink at the order to turn around and kill the people they swore to protect. 

[u/LurkmasterP → u/Violet_Paradox]

This is it. They don't want experienced military leaders evaluating the situation to come up with strategies before giving orders; the politicians will decide what they want done, the bootlickers will rubber stamp it, and the unthinking "warfighters" will carry out the orders without question.

[u/Canadian-Man-infj → u/LurkmasterP]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eichmann_in_Jerusalem

The "banality of evil." It wasn't so much that they were all "evil." Many were just... "doing their job" and "following orders," obediently in an 'agentic state'.

[u/the_honest_liar → u/MaximumEffort433]

Getting rid of anyone who will tell them "no".

[u/monsterlynn → u/MaximumEffort433]

Relax, it's just a purge so everyone can be replaced with white Christian nationalists loyal only to Trump.

[u/Hardcorish → u/monsterlynn]

Phew, for a second there I was worried

[u/archlich → u/MaximumEffort433]

Russias investment on Trump has payed off beyond their wildest expectations.

[u/ClintBruno → u/MaximumEffort433]

But they're arresting the brown people I'm scared of!!

[u/OldConfusions → u/ClintBruno]

Don't forget murdering the protesters you hate!

[u/Mesapunk87 → u/OldConfusions]

Don't forget shutting out news outlets from trying to shed light on all the aforementioned

[u/geekpeeps → u/MaximumEffort433]

It’s almost like this strategy is an enemy idea. I wonder who might have suggested it to them?

[u/freedfg]

If not traitor, why traitor shaped?

[u/AssassinInValhalla → u/freedfg]

I can't wait for this rat fucks trial.

[u/Shufflepants → u/AssassinInValhalla]

[Democrats win control of the house and Senate]

Schumer and Jeffries: Okay, time to return to civility, governing responsibly, and working across the aisle.

[u/WildBad7298 → u/Shufflepants]

"This is a time for unity and healing, not division and blame."

[u/dada948 → u/WildBad7298]

It’s a time for dick-kicks and cunt-punches all around. Let no one be spared

[u/OutlawJuicyWhales → u/dada948]

This is unconscionable. How dare you express this sentiment in such a manner. We are better than this.

The proper choice for your rhyme scheme would be 'cunt-punt'. Be better.

[u/beegtuna → u/WildBad7298]

Reconstruction 2: Electric Bogaloo

[u/Th3_Admiral_ → u/Shufflepants]

Seriously, anyone expecting any government official above the level of intern to face criminal charges is going to be seriously disappointed. 

[u/DwinkBexon → u/Th3_Admiral_]

A few weeks ago, I saw someone on social media say, "I can't wait until after the election. Trump, Hegseth, Patel and all the other corrupt assholes will be tossed in jail for life. Thank god!"

I responded... you're gonna be really disappointed if that's what you're expecting to happen. They didn't respond and blocked me.

[u/Shankurmom → u/AssassinInValhalla]

Won't happen unless we the people make it happen. Nobody is coming to save us.

This is the rise of a dictatorship like never seen before and the clock is fucking ticking. With the technology and level of surveillance, once everything is in place, resistance will be impossible.

Fascists don't willingly cede power. It must be taken back.

[u/Hardcorish → u/Shankurmom]

This is what I've been saying too. We really need to get our shit figured out fast, because very soon it will be nearly impossible to revolt in any meaningful capacity

[u/LeonSKennedy95 → u/AssassinInValhalla]

trial? Eh I'm waiting for something slightly different and more permeant. Probably won't be toooo long off with the alcoholism and all that, but probably like 10 years at least. All these people belong in the dirt.

[u/InadequateUsername → u/freedfg]

They're trying to run the Pentagon as a corporation and he's the CEO announcing a lay off of 20% of their workforce.

Edit: If your comment is one of the following categories, your point is made:

• This is a loyalty purge, removing generals who might refuse unconstitutional orders
• A coup in progress.
• A coup would be self-defeating,
• Americans are unlikely to resist a real coup.

[u/IcarianWings → u/InadequateUsername]

Or, and hear me out, the groups that have been saying for years they are going to stage a coup if they lose power are prepping for a coup.

[u/RemarkableGround174 → u/InadequateUsername]

It's not that though, they're axing leadership, not grunts. The generals who are problematic because they won't follow unconstitutional orders

[u/CharleyNobody]

It’s a coup, people

instead of “ousting” top brass they’re “laying off” top brass and replacing with insurrectionists.

[u/boundless88 → u/CharleyNobody]

I was always a little skeptical how the opposition in Alex Garland's Civil War movie was portrayed as so well organized and successful against the government forces loyal to the POTUS. Now I get it.

[u/EQandCivfanatic → u/boundless88]

It's fairly well known in troubled countries. Typically all a purge does (if you refrain from murder), is show the opposition who they can rally with when shit hits the fan. It's a rookie coup move.

[u/Different_Wolf_764 → u/boundless88]

Idiocracy, Civil War and Don't Look Up all seemed to be deep satire at the time, I didn't really expect them to be understating the situation.

[u/TheCee → u/Different_Wolf_764]

To be fair, Civil War came out two years ago and didn't seem all that far-fetched even then, especially if you've traveled through the rural US.

[u/Different_Wolf_764 → u/TheCee]

Holy shit, that was just two years ago? Man, this timeline sucks ass.

EDIT: You are completely correct though, I really shouldn't lump it in with the others. It was more of a biting commentary than satire or parody.

[u/Fuzzy_Squirrel_]

There is a name for this. It's called a coup. The sad part is... I honestly don't think people grasp how dangerous the Republican Party has become. They have no regard for our democracy, our institutions, or our freedoms. They only want extreme wealth and power.

[u/bankrobba → u/Fuzzy_Squirrel_]

It's scary how much of the government is run on "norms."

[u/warmfuzzume → u/Fuzzy_Squirrel_]

They want more than wealth and power, they want to rule the world and space in the name of their religion.

“The Pentagon also will launch an effort to study the future of warfare that will be led in part by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Hegseth said. The Defense Department will create an Office of Religious Affairs and plans to build a new base for the first time in 40 years, he added.”

I don’t mean to hijack the top comment but I scrolled way down and didn’t see a single person say anything about the italics. Why is the military creating an office of religious affairs? When we know they are Christian Nationalists? And now they have weapons in space?

Meanwhile JD Vance even said he wouldn’t mind if what they’re doing brought on the end times?

What in the actual fuck, this shit is next level scary and insane.

[u/SuspiciouslyDullGuy → u/Fuzzy_Squirrel_]

Pretty much. They're obviously purging military leadership of people who would likely resist coup-like activity. Presumably aimed at the run up to the next presidential election. Hegseth started purging senior leadership of women and people of color from day 1. The thing is I don't believe the Republican party as a whole are behind this. I think they're so far into a state of denial about the monster they created that they can watch it all happen and imagine commentary pointing it out as overblown or hysterical paranoia. Being a traitor to democracy and being an actual conservative aren't the same thing, not by a mile.

[u/No_Accountant3232 → u/SuspiciouslyDullGuy]

He also wants to use the military to protect the polls. Getting rid of the commanders who said hell no to that is a priority. 

[u/nagleess]

They are building a military that is loyal to them and not to the constitution. It’s painfully obvious at this point.

[u/jwilphl → u/nagleess]

This is also an attempt to prevent a military coup against them.

Likewise, as insane as that may sound to Americans, myself included, installing loyalists in the highest positions ensures they have strict compliance when they order military boots on the ground domestically to stomp opposition.

All that to say you're correct.  This is about presidential immunity over Constitutional hierarchy.

[u/Shucked]

Guys, this is really really bad and exactly what I was afraid of. One of our safeguards against the rise of a dictator in America is the military. The top brass are all educated and taught what to do if a leader tries to take over and refuses to give up power. This reeks of a coup in the making. They are purging the military of anyone who would cause a problem when they decide to assume control. This administration has no intention of giving up power.

[u/Philophon → u/Shucked]

This goes to show that it was never really a safeguard at all. If something is under the control of the executive branch, it is not a guard against it.

And there is no guard against anything when all three branches of government have been compromised. All that remains is The People, and their willingness to fight for a freedom that they may never see again.

We'll be seeing soon if it is already too late for any other future.

[u/USDXBS → u/Shucked]

The US has already fallen to a dictator and the US military were loyal to him.

[u/Shucked → u/USDXBS]

I’m not saying you are exactly wrong, but there is a difference between a quiet coup and an open coup. Right now we are in the middle of a quiet coup. Laws are being ignored, corrupt judges are declaring it all legal, and the Democrats in the senate are waiting for the midterms to see what happens. Eventually though Trump is going to have to take that definitive last step where he declares elections over.

[u/Waste-Time-2440 → u/Shucked]

The midterms are already being positioned to be "controversial" in many ways, giving losing candidates the excuse they need for refusing to relinquish power. Simultaneously the USPS quietly made a rule that delays postmarks that can cause mail-in ballots to be refused for being apparently cast too late. Only the insiders know in which precincts those ballots will be delayed. Then there's the many election deniers placed into power over state elections, waiting their turn on the stage. Places lik Ft. Worth, reducing the number of polling places but only in likely blue precincts are directly suppressing the vote too.

We are already seeing what happens.

[u/Sup3rT4891]

It’s impressive how effective this administration has been at gutting services provided, weakened partnerships, threatened allies, strengthen rivals, wasted resources, crushed tourism, destroyed goodwill, opted out of soft power, wasted military power, forced service members to serve and suffer for nothing, all while not decreasing government spending and increasing cost of living.

[u/No-Falcon-4996 → u/Sup3rT4891]

It truly is! They have destroyed the White House, the Kennedy Center, killed every rose in Jackie Kennedy's garden, chopped down the national cherry trees on the mall, bulldozed Big Bend NP, slaughteted our wild horses, sold millions of acres of wilderness to be logged and ruined, bombed our own gas supply, started multiple wars for no reason, AND doubled the national debt by Trillions!! Amazing record.

[u/Twicebakedpotatoe]

Political purge. They’re ousting the people who would put up the biggest fight against using the military against US Citizen uproar if/when this administration tries to block or ignore the midterm elections or a subsequent impeachment effort.

[u/Big-Zucchini-6281]

I’m convinced these guys are foreign plants. There’s no way you do shit this stupid and aren’t some kind of paid asset.

I think it’s telling that even members of the American Nationalist far right are starting to turn against him.

[u/polkemans → u/Big-Zucchini-6281]

Seriously. When you view everything through the lense of "what would you do if you wanted to destabilize and cripple the us?" Then it all makes a lot of sense.

[u/Sad-Excitement9295 → u/Big-Zucchini-6281]

They have to be, in some way shape or form, this is corruption and subversion. There's no other way to explain it. Incompetence doesn't even fit the bill at this point, this is intentional.

[u/face_eater_5000]

Creating an Autonomous Warfare Command and firing 20% of the experienced leadership are related news. They are systematically eliminating everything that tells them when an idea is terrible. AI will now just tell them every idea they have is genius, and then autonomous systems will cheerfully carry out the idea without anyone to get in the way. I guess they figured out the the U.S. Code and the UCMJ is more problematic than they thought.

[u/stealingmoney]

Pretty sure they did the same thing in the third Reich.

Yep, Just confirmed with Google. I guess they're following the same playbook

[u/n_mcrae_1982 → u/stealingmoney]

They also did a much bloodier type of purge in the Soviet Union, which cost them a considerable amount of capable military leadership.

The result was the Germans getting within shouting distance of Moscow a couple of years later.

[u/EnslavedBandicoot]

And how is that not a national security breach? Get that fucker outta there congress.

[u/labinecollector]

This is an attempted coup. They're getting rid of anyone who might be against them.

[u/facepoppies]

Ah yes. The old strategy of reducing military leadership when you're locked in a stalemate in a foreign war

[u/Ruvidman]

This is how you respect the military, fire everyone with years of service who is confident right in the middle of the war, cut funding to the VA, and leave our troops out in the middle of the ocean for 200+ days. (For any Republicans reading this, this is hyperbole)

[u/0wnzorPwnz0r → u/Ruvidman]

You make a huge assumption thinking they'll know what hyperbole means.

[u/Questlove802 → u/0wnzorPwnz0r]

“Hyper Bowl” they’re probably saying

[u/49DivineDayVacation]

This is truly the first American administration that doesn't want America to be better. They just want it to theirs. That's the true project of this admin.

Brain drain the military. Brain drain the government. Eradicate everyone that doesn't agree with you. Your vision will live on for a generation of future leaders that got their shot because there's no one left.

[u/ziggy029]

Alternate headline: "The 20% of admirals and generals who will not abandon loyalty to the Constitution in favor of Trump are being sacked".

[u/Spam_A_Lottamus → u/ziggy029]

Stage is set for a military coup.

[u/SNARA]

And now Musk is co-leading the Autonomous Warfare division... We're so screwed.

[u/mtb443]

People think coups are creating armies to favor you.

In reality, it’s taking current armies and cutting down those who disobey.

This is a dictatorship’s playbook.

[u/Going2beBANNEDanyway]

It’s weird how what these people do always seems to directly match what Russia would want to happen.

[u/petrified_eel4615]

"The Prince of Wen called Lao Tsu to ask, 'How does a great nation fall?'

'Many victories in many wars,' the sage replied.

'A nation would be powerful indeed to win many victories in many wars! Why should such a nation fall?'

'Many victories leads to arrogant leaders. Many wars lead to a weakened people. Let arrogant men rule weakened people, and rare is the nation that will not fall.'"

[u/Whole-Designer]

Please vote in November's election. We unfortunately don't have the power to stop everything, but we need to do our best to remove the ones in Washington that do nothing to stop this

[u/tdclark23]

Stalin did that before Hitler attacked his country. Bad mistake.

[u/Loud-Weakness4840 → u/tdclark23]

You don’t have to go that far back. They fired Middle East and Iranian intelligence officers that said fighting them is foolish.

[u/robexib]

But will it cut 20% of it's budget so Americans at home could actually get some help? Maybe fund Social Security?

[u/Expert-Basil6015 → u/robexib]

They'll want even more taxpayer money for new leather chairs.

[u/AnomalyNexus]

Let me guess...all the ones not willing to bend the knee to the supreme leader

edit: oh sht...they're not even pretending

“Hegseth told reporters Monday that the removals were necessary because he didn't want them to pose any "roadblocks to orders that are given by a commander in chief."

[u/homebrew_1]

If obama did this the headlines would be why does Obama hate the military.

[u/BumblebeeFormal2115 → u/homebrew_1]

Why does… Trump hate the military?

[u/ilovelemonsquares]

China and Russia completely agree with the secretary.

[u/Littlepharaoh]

Hegseth is a DUI hire

[u/ridingbikesrules]

Loyalty purge. Party over country, every time.

[u/DopamineQuest]

Excellent work, Kegsbreath. This is what happens when an alcoholic, wife beater, ex Fox News host becomes the Secretary of Defense.

[u/freedfg → u/DopamineQuest]

No it isn't. Do not attribute this to incompetence.

This is direct actions against the interest of the United States in wartime. He is a traitor. Charge him as one.

[u/relevantelephant00 → u/freedfg]

The plan is to remove any generals who wouldn't follow orders when they attempt the coup in November.

[u/DopamineQuest → u/freedfg]

Good point.

[u/40oz2freedom__ → u/DopamineQuest]

Don’t forget that it’s being done to cement loyalty to a draft dodger who has contempt for military service in general.

[u/M0BBER]

How much you want to bet it's the ones loyal to their country?

[u/kpurintun]

Step one to being a foreign enemy asset.. eliminate your top experience.

[u/LacklusteHero]

When I retired from the military in 2020 (literally ETS'd right before the pandemic) they were already in the midst of an "up or out" campaign. You either took a promotion in some far-flung spot or got booted out. This created a massive brain drain, because they got rid of so many O-3 and 0-4's with vast institutional knowledge in favor of up-and-coming (but less knowledgeable) officers.

That, combined with this traitor's bullshit, will ultimately be the U.S. military's downfall.

[u/ArtShare → u/LacklusteHero]

This makes it easier for one person to control the whole department (wedge heg i.e. orange poopsicle).

[u/darthy_parker]

Whack a bunch of hornets nests to destabilize, threaten multiple invasions, and then cut back on experienced leadership. Sounds like a plan. A stupid plan.

[u/flatpetey]

At this point this is about midterms. Iran is just a vanity project. But trump became president to avoid jail and he has nothing to lose by going all the way.

[u/onanadhocbasis]

November can't come soon enough

[u/whitepawn23]

Why would you advertise all the things that tell the world how fucked our military is getting under this regime?

[u/Procrasturbating]

Foreign or domestic. They took an oath. Surely a few of them have the balls to come out a tell the public exactly what the hell is going on.

[u/No_Cucumber3978]

So. Take home.

"Generals we can't control, out, AI that my dear leader can control, in."

That's a whole lot of fluff for such a shitty arse move. A whole lot of fluffing with bullshit promises that people will forget about in a month. All that rhetoric to hide their intentions. People will forget about the replacing humans with AI/Robots and focus on his lies and bullshittery. 

Mark my words. This is about getting more control of the armed forces for when he loses power, holes up in his bunker. Oh, and money for their mates. 

Now it makes sense why the noncebox announced they're going all in on AI, (sorry, SI), and building more and more data centres. 

This PH guy is literally a TV show presenter. And this is what he is doing. Carrying a message from his techbros and family/friends. 

[u/NOTRadagon]

"Don't worry guys, just purging those that dont agree woth us. Nothing to see here."

Never forget when Trump openly said he wanted the kind of Generals Hitler had.

[u/tikitikirumrum]

How are conservatives holding up? Cutting 20% of generals and admirals in the middle of a war sounds like a smart decision right? Right?

[u/ronnie1014]

“redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership."

This is like when corporate needs to justify their job but don't actually know how anything works.

What a joke.

[u/mikerichh]

Cutting leadership during a war and while preparing for an operation in Cuba? Sounds smart!

[u/ThisNameIsHilarious]

So *if* a foreign agent were to place an asset high up in our military chain of command....what would they be doing differently?

[u/KagatoAC]

And after the midterms we will hopefully be asking them all to return. Assuming they arent just straight up suing the government.

Can we just impeach this idiot already? Please?

[u/2nd_Sun]

Gee, I wonder which 20% will be laid off? On a totally unrelated note, anyone else remember at the beginning of the second admin them proudly announcing purity tests, and key leadership’s inability to answer simple questions about refusing illegal orders?

[u/The_Colour_Between]

USS Abraham Lincoln out for 8 months, returning as a rust bucket and the crew starving and suicidal... That was nothing compared to what is coming.

Trump and Hegseth are removing standards, moral, rules, honor... they are dismantling a once great military with great leaders, for loyalist and lackeys.

They want canon fodder that will do whatever war crimes they order. Whatever inhuman conditions they put them through, there will be no "superior officers" that will take a stand.

This is how you establish a Third Reich... and MAGA is all for it.

[u/Inzpectorspacetime]

Loyalty purge. So transparent.

[u/wihannez]

Paving way for that military coup I see.

[u/MimeGod]

I'm betting that this will "coincidentally" include nearly all women and non-white officers.

[u/Mathrinofeve → u/MimeGod]

No, it’s moved to phase 2. Non yes men.

[u/AudibleNod]

He's also targeting African-Americans by going after pseudofolliculitis barbae:

Service members with medical shaving waivers must undergo treatment and periodic evaluations, with waivers generally limited to 90-day increments. Those who remain unable to shave without irritation following a year of treatment may be booted from their service.

[u/onarainyafternoon → u/AudibleNod]

The guy that has a white supremacist tattoo is doing this? I never would have thought.

[u/Gtstricky]

There are 20+ prior Fox News employees working for Trump.

[u/jojodonutjoanie]

Military coup in lock step to back up Trump’s coup… so GOP maintains control (cheats to win) all elections from this time forward.

[u/Least-Training2978]

Consider the other things this administration has done.

* A deliberately racist shave policy meant to kick out black service men.
* Blocked O-7 and above promotions specifically of minorities and women.

• On the home front, using ICE as a paramilitary against minorities.

The 20% are black/brown/female or a combination thereof. That’s who’s being fired mark my words.

Trumps a racist, Hegseth is literally a Neo Nazi.

[u/0AJ0_]

MAGA must be scoured from the nation.

[u/dafunkmunk]

Wow, so only 20% of generals and admirals arent yesmen trump loyalists? If there was ever an incentive to massively cut the military budget and put those funds towards programs that actually help taxpayers, this current trump admin is the best reason we will ever get. It's a shame that corruption and rot run way too deep in the congress to ever bite the lobbying hands that feed them

[u/Lallanath]

If you're a general or admiral and get cut, are you just not in the military anymore?

I thought in the military you just stayed in until you left voluntarily or were removed for cause.

[u/Sweatytubesock]

I’ve said it many times, but this country will never recover from this criminal regime.

[u/chitoatx]

So we are currently at war in Iran, blockading Cuba and whatever we are doing in Venezuela but we need less military leadership?

[u/Zaius1968]

Good luck fighting the next major conflict…

[u/Spam_Hand → u/Zaius1968]

Good luck fighting the current major conflict...

[u/Uhoh_Potato]

Much easier to coup when you've removed any leadership brave enough to step up to you

[u/readysetmoses]

This is called “consolidation of power”

[u/Gonnagetbant]

They’re totally setting up for a complete military take over when they need to and having people who will not defy orders is their first step

[u/HUT2Moon]

I.e., the blacks and women

[u/A-Halfpound]

I fear this is another step towards the eventual day where American citizens will be forced into conflict with the American military.

They are removing the sane adults from the table.

[u/boatswum]

I have a MAGA relative that’s worried they’re going to lose their job, and my MAGA grandma said “this isn’t fair, they should be firing janitors and all the unimportant jobs leaching off the government we don’t need to be funding”…. So you don’t want the military to have clean buildings…?

[u/notyourentertainment]

He acts like a person who has never been in the military.

[u/Positive_Vibes_4228]

I would guess minorities and women?

[u/Imyoteacher]

He’s cutting the portion of leadership that doesn’t agree with the administration. Soon there’ll be nothing left but those that will do what they’re told without questions. That includes attacking Americans if needed.

[u/Iwasbanished]

i guess the US is planning for an internal conflict.

[u/Phyose]

This might be a bigger, more imminent problem than people realize. Not all of these generals and admirals could step away quietly. Some may see and call out what this is for what it is, a blatant grab for power and consolidation of support of the current admin within the military. I hope that, at best, nothing happens because of this, as this is already a catastrophic blunder in weakening not just our soft power, but our real power projection. At worst, this turns into the executive branch, and the nation itself by extension, cannibalizing itself as high ranking officers start taking sides.

[u/tjarg]

Coup attempt number two.

[u/Fluffy_Charity_2732]

So why did they double the ready largest military budget in human history within 2 years?

Can’t say it’s for financial reasons. Noodle arm bitch boy

[u/PooPaLuPaLoo]

You Americans are getting so screwed. 

[u/sonia72quebec]

Women and non white first I imagine.

[u/bobcat116]

That’s how you get a coup. Fire the ones with morals and boundaries, streamline leadership to true believers and ta da…coup attempt incoming.

[u/BrightEdge8171]

Every empire falls. Wild watching it happen in real time

[u/chaldea_fgo]

Trump will fight to stay in office and stay in power. I know the midterms are coming up and if we assume democrats take control, I dont think an impeachment will stop him or get his cabinet to leave. He has violated the law so many times till now, I dont think he will let the lawful process of an impeachment stop him. I will vote regardless and I urge everyone to as well. But if I have to bet on Donald Trump respecting a lawful impeachment and then leaving office to face judgement for his crimes, or in the face of impeachment, decide to seize power completely, I believe he will do the later.

[u/xenoie]

Less people in the room to disagree with you.

[u/haney1981]

I think this is less about being a leaner force and more about getting rid of the 20% of officers they don't like for ideological reasons.

[u/andymfjAZ]

Remember that Hegseth pitched and got almost DOUBLE the military budget from Congress. Selling it’s as “security” costs, but cutting people out who could provide said security?

Someone check Pete’s pockets.

[u/Spidero0w0o]

Hey they're taking over the military. They're firing everyone who's not a loyalist

[u/Less-Jellyfish5385]

So the Pentagon's spending will go down 20% right?

[u/wtg2989]

These people work for foreign powers

[u/Lonely-Greybeard]

He's trying to get rid of the personnel that won't be his yes man. They have integrity, so they hamper his plans.

[u/tlhsg]

consolidation of power

[u/RicardoNurein]

I thought Congress was going to vote to impeach this guy?

[u/iwilltalkaboutguns → u/RicardoNurein]

People need to vote in November if they want to stop the current administration from doing much worse than this. Let's see if the American people woke up yet or not.

[u/toalth → u/RicardoNurein]

The sock puppet speaker sent the House into recess to avoid the impeachment vote

[u/Ok-Turnip-9035]

So just followers less leaders from the old guard who know protocol and have challenged the step away from it

…that’s Telling.

[u/MrMichaelJames]

Less people who can actually do something to oppose the gov when they reject the election in a month.

[u/dyfish]

Anyone in the military have an opinion on this? Is the top of the leadership bloated? Or is this just political
purging.

[u/SlyJackFox → u/dyfish]

Recently former military, worked in info and politics, so with some authority I opine it’s purely political and deliberate. It’s removing the hurdles between civilian leaders and military personnel. This translates to less pushback of civilian orders, and allows yes-men into top spots.

[u/Major__de_Coverly → u/SlyJackFox]

Retired Army O-6 here. I peacetime Army should be top-heavy, because we can quickly draft and train new troops, but you can't quickly train the leaders, something we figured out in World War Two. 

It took 25 years and two graduate degrees to complete my training for my final command assignment. 

If you get rid of much of the senior leadership, a future draft military will be poorly led. 

As usual, Trump and the drunk reserve major who never held company command don't know what they are doing. 

[u/lafolieisgood → u/SlyJackFox]

That’s what it looks like to me as a non military person. Less people that can say no.

[u/paulcthemantosee]

Non-white males will be cut first is my guess.

[u/digidave1]

Just the black ones, females and those with receding hairlines, right?

[u/thisistheSnydercut]

How could Putin do this to his new country?

[u/onlyNSFWclips]

Putin and Xi Jinping have never had such a hard erection in their life. You could pick 20 uneducated homeless people to run America and they would have been more effective.

[u/Mantaur4HOF]

Putin is creaming his pants.

[u/wildmaninid]

Sounds like a coup a brewin

[u/Oldfolksboogie]

TIL 20% of current generals and admirals are loyal to the constitution, not the wanna- be dictator.

[u/111anza]

Consolidating and concentrating control of arm forces, seems like a familiar move, all dictators did that just before they abolish the governemnt

[u/Estella_Osoka]

So basically, he's doing another round of firings of the people who don't lick his boots.?

[u/luv2ctheworld]

Fucking can't believe these Trump and his ilk haven't been arrested for treason.

[u/Hopeful_Ear_6253]

All because they won't kiss his ass

[u/TheMule90]

Oh man this guy's grave will get pissed on by a shit ton of military people.

[u/krztoff]

Got to get rid of anyone who isn't coup-friendly

[u/structee]

This should terrify everyone. Really hoping the midterms pump the breaks on this.