Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered virtually all of the U.S. military’s top commanders worldwide to gather on short notice — and without a stated reason — at a Marine Corps base in Virginia next week

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called the military’s senior leadership — hundreds of generals and admirals — to an unannounced meeting at a northern Virginia base next week, according to three people familiar with the plans.

The order gave no explanation for why commanders of one-star rank and above, along with their senior aides, were being directed to gather Tuesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico. The individuals, who described the move as unusual, requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the sensitive preparations.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that Hegseth “will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week.”

The U.S. military includes about 800 general and flag officers across the services, many overseeing thousands of troops deployed in more than a dozen countries and time zones.

President Donald Trump appeared unaware of the gathering when asked by reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday. “I’ll be there if they want me, but why is that such a big deal?” he said.

Vice President JD Vance suggested the media had exaggerated the significance, saying it was “not particularly unusual that generals who report to” Hegseth would meet with him.

The Washington Post first reported the planned session, which follows a series of unexpected steps Hegseth has taken regarding military leadership.

In May, he ordered a 20% reduction of the armed forces’ four-star generals, imposed a further 10% cut on all general and flag officer positions, and instructed the National Guard to trim 20% of its senior posts.

Earlier this year, in February, Hegseth abruptly dismissed Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Navy’s top officer, and Gen. James Slife, the Air Force’s second-highest officer, without explanation, along with the military’s top legal officials. Since then, he has continued removing other senior leaders. Most recently, he relieved the head of a military intelligence agency after an assessment of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities angered Trump.