Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's State of the Force Address : Department of Defense , September 30 , 2026
From the document: "Warriors, good afternoon.
One year ago today, I stood right here, on this very stage, and addressed Generals, and Admirals, and Sergeants Major. Now, the hyperventilating media thought it might be an impromptu PT test. Maybe it should have been. Instead, the speech was a declaration of independence for the War Department. Marking a clean break from the Defense Department of old.
The speech reestablished a singular mission for the department: warfighting. Preparing to fight — and preparing to win. Unrelenting, unapologetic, and uncompromising in that single pursuit.
Now, I think the Generals heard the message. Those who responded positively — which is most of them — are leading newly focused, and newly empowered, and disciplined formations. Those generals who did not — who clung to the "Woke Department" or seem to think civilian control of the military is simply a suggestion, well, they no longer work here."
Authors - Hegseth, PeteRelated Resources