US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addresses senior military officers at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, on September 30, 2025. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Tuesday told a rare gathering of top brass called back from bases around the world that the US military will be reformed to end what he called "decades of decay." Speaking to hundreds of generals and admirals in Quantico, Virginia, Hegseth declared an end to "ideological garbage," giving concerns over climate change, bullying, "toxic" leaders, and promotions based on race or gender as examples. (Photo by Andrew Harnik / POOL / AFP)