As the federal government teeters on the point of a shutdown, President Donald Trump and Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday will handle an auditorium filled with a number of hundred of the nation’s most seasoned army commanders summoned last-minute from around the globe.
The occasion is slated to happen at a Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, a safe web site an hour south of the nation’s capital. Sources say Hegseth is predicted to kick off the occasion at 8:15 a.m. ET with a 30-minute speech on the significance of the “warrior ethos,” a time period used to explain the spirit that makes fight models efficient.
Hegseth, who now goes by the title “secretary of conflict” as a part of a broader rebranding ordered by Trump, can be anticipated to the touch on the significance of imposing fight requirements that maintain troops deadly, in addition to reference new requirements for grooming that embody necessities for troops to stay clean-shaven.
Trump is predicted to comply with Hegseth together with his personal speech earlier than releasing the army common and flag officers to return to their obligation stations after the hourlong occasion.
Secretary of Protection Pete Hegseth speaks in the course of the 2025 Nationwide POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 19, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Final week, common and flag officers on the one-star stage and above have been informed to fly to Quantico from their obligation stations with simply a number of days’ discover and no trace as to what the assembly is perhaps about. The Pentagon declined to touch upon the assembly, and hypothesis rapidly unfold that the assembly might need to do with pressing cuts to the army pressure or the nationwide protection technique, which might set new priorities for the second Trump administration and will change how troops practice and equip themselves.
In the long run, although, sources stated the assembly appeared — at the least as of now — to be extra of a “rally the troops” speech just like what Hegseth regularly provides in public venues and in Fox Information interviews. However his remarks, which will likely be livestreamed to the general public, will even present a major picture alternative with Hegseth addressing tons of of high army generals as their boss.
On Sunday, this system was given an surprising jolt when the White Home introduced Trump would be a part of Hegseth at Quantico. The White Home has not stated when or how the president discovered of Hegseth’s assembly or why he wished to take part. Aides additionally have not stated what Trump’s remarks will deal with.
The Protection Division, which now coined by Trump and Hegseth because the “Division of Struggle,” has not stated how a lot it is going to price to fly in so many individuals final minute, though it’s broadly anticipated to price a number of tons of of hundreds of {dollars}.
It is also not clear precisely how many individuals have been invited. General, there are 838 complete common officers and admirals on lively obligation — 446 of them are from the upper two-star, three-star and four-star ranks — in accordance with the Pentagon’s newest statistics from June.
The occasion comes as the federal government is careening towards a possible shutdown that would pressure some 2 million troops to work with out pay if a spending invoice would not cross Congress by midnight Wednesday.
Most army personnel are on monitor to be paid Oct. 1, officers stated Monday. However after that, troops can be on the mercy of negotiations on Capitol Hill, which stay at a stalemate.
Based on a contingency plan posted by the Pentagon this weekend, all active-duty troops can be required to maintain working. The plan says contracts can transfer ahead, too, however below elevated scrutiny with precedence given to efforts to safe the U.S. southern border and construct Trump’s U.S. missile protect often called “Golden Dome,” in addition to operations within the Center East and shipbuilding.
There had been hypothesis that the commanders touring from around the globe to listen to Trump and Hegseth communicate on Tuesday may get caught away from their assigned work areas if the federal government shuts down that night time. However in accordance with authorities steerage, personnel should return residence as quickly as attainable if a shutdown happens whereas on work journey. Any journey prices incurred after the shutdown are reimbursable as soon as spending resumes.
