Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces accusations of endangering U.S. national security after announcing plans to cut 20 percent of positions reserved for generals and admirals. Retired Maj. Gen. Randy Manner blasted the Pentagon chief, saying Hegseth is "playing Russian roulette with the security of the United States."
Hegseth's latest directive doubles an earlier 10 percent reduction in senior officer roles across the Army, Navy and Air Force. The secretary defended the shake-up during an address to troops at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Wednesday.
During his remarks, Hegseth touted the removal of military leaders he said had embraced a "woke culture" within the Pentagon. He characterized the cuts as "accountability and long overdue," adding that "the ideological clowns are out. The patriotic cowboys are in."
Manner appeared on CNN's The Lead on Wednesday, acknowledging that reducing the number of senior officers holds merit. He said a "thoughtful restructuring would be very smart" for the military.
However, Manner argued Hegseth's approach was carried out recklessly, particularly "during a war with Iran." He accused the secretary of attempting to "purge the military" of leaders who do not align with his views.
Manner said Hegseth is "literally purging people who don't agree with him" and warned these actions would cost the military experienced leaders at a critical time. He called Hegseth an "incompetent secretary of Defense" who is not dealing with "the profitability of a corporation" and emphasized the cuts are "extremely dangerous" for the nation's security.
