US defense chief urges end to 'decades of decay' in the military

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told hundreds of senior officers gathered near Washington that the armed forces must reverse what he called “decades of decay.” In a wide-ranging address, he criticized what he described as ideological distractions and defended a series of shake-ups across the Pentagon. The remarks come amid controversy over troop deployments to US cities and operations abroad, as well as an inspector general probe into his conduct. The gathering also preceded an address expected from President Donald Trump. Hegseth highlighted earlier directives to cut the number of general and flag officers and reduce civilian headcount at the Department of Defense. He argued that reform is impossible without leadership changes and cited multiple dismissals of senior officials since January. The speech also referenced US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran-aligned Yemeni rebels earlier in the year, along with domestic deployments in cities facing unrest. Vice President JD Vance downplayed speculation around the high-level meeting, calling it routine.