The US military has’ destroyed’ Iran's air and naval fleets and crippled its nuclear progress, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday. Speaking during a State of the Force address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Hegseth announced the establishment of a new autonomous warfare command and declared that the Pentagon is no longer a 'woke department.' He stated that the organization now consists of 'just warriors,' specifically excluding individuals he characterized as 'radicals,' 'wimps,' or 'weirdos.'

Hegseth also confirmed a 20% total reduction in senior officer positions across the Army, Navy, and Air Force to change a culture he claimed was enabled by a previous leadership class. He noted that 10% of serving generals and admirals were fired, while another 10% of officer slots were removed entirely. These cuts, which double a reduction ordered last year, are scheduled for completion by Jan 1, 2027.