# Hegseth cuts 20% military brass

> Defense secretary Pete Hegseth plans to cut 20% of US generals and admirals, targeting 'beardos, weirdos and wimps'.
- Title: Hegseth cuts 20% military brass · the Guardian | Shortify
- Summary: Defense secretary Pete Hegseth plans to cut 20% of US generals and admirals, targeting 'beardos, weirdos and wimps'. US defense secretary Pete Hegseth…
- Keywords: pete hegseth, us military, military brass, diversity, elon musk, penta, trump administration, news, world, Hegseth, cuts, military
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/30/hegseth-military-personnel-cuts
- Published: 2026-09-30T21:20:58+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: pete hegseth, us military, military brass, diversity, elon musk, penta, trump administration, news, world
## Hegseth confirms military cuts
Defense secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed plans to cut 20% of generals and admirals from US top military leadership.

> no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps
## Hegseth targets diversity
Hegseth dismissed reports of low morale as 'false claims' and claimed military retains service personnel at 'record' rates.

> false claims
## USS Abraham Lincoln deployment
The USS Abraham Lincoln retained 80% of its crew after a 286-day deployment in the Iran war.

> 80% of the force
## Hegseth attacks media
Hegseth accused media of 'disingenuous headlines' about military deployment and morale, calling claims 'false' or 'propaganda'.

> disingenuous headlines
## Elon Musk taskforce
Elon Musk joins Pentagon taskforce on future of warfare with Palmer Luckey and Newt Gingrich.

> future of warfare
## Hegseth criticizes Ivy League
Hegseth branded Ivy League universities as 'DEI-worshipping woke factories' and named Harvard and Princeton as examples.

> DEI-worshipping woke factories
## Key takeaway

US defense secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed plans to reduce 20% of top military leadership while rejecting diversity in the armed forces.