US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a significant restructuring of the military with the creation of a new command focused exclusively on autonomous warfare, marking a prominent shift in defense priorities. The Autonomous Warfare Command, or Autowarcom, will be led by a four-star officer and tasked with advancing the deployment and procurement of unmanned weapons systems, including drones and other autonomous technologies. This initiative was unveiled during Hegseth’s “state of the force” address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday.
Hegseth emphasized that Autowarcom will operate on the same level as established combatant commands such as US Central Command and US Special Operations Command, allowing it to streamline decision-making and acquisition processes for unmanned systems that are currently managed separately by individual service branches. However, he acknowledged expected internal resistance to the new command within the Pentagon’s bureaucracy.
The announcement forms part of a broader overhaul Hegseth promises to implement within the military, aimed at reinvigorating what he described as a revived “warrior ethos.” Speaking before hundreds of junior officers and enlisted personnel, he framed the changes as a rejection of what he characterized as a previous era dominated by a focus on diversity and inclusion initiatives, which he said had weakened the force. Hegseth’s remarks included controversial language denouncing the military as no longer “weak” or “woke,” and rejecting individuals he disparaged with terms referencing gender identity and physical appearance.
In support of his message, Hegseth earlier led a physical training session with around 600 troops wearing “THIS IS WAR” T-shirts outside the Pentagon. He declared that “the ideological clowns are out” and “the patriotic cowboys are in,” while confirming a planned 20 percent reduction in senior military leadership ranks.
Hegseth also criticized media coverage of the ongoing conflict in Iran, labeling it “anti-American” and accusing the press of “national betrayal,” reflecting political challenges facing US involvement in the region as the midterm elections approach.
Among other initiatives announced, Hegseth launched “Project Meridian,” a collaboration involving SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Anduril co-founder Palmer Luckey, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. This project is tasked with analyzing the future trajectory of warfare, emerging domains, and technology trends, with a report expected within 120 days.
Additionally, Hegseth outlined plans to establish a new US military base, the first constructed on domestic soil in four decades, designed in a classical architectural style aligning with former President Donald Trump’s preferences. He also introduced an initiative dubbed “Fortress America,” aimed at ensuring all US military installations have independent power generation capabilities to reduce reliance on the civilian electrical grid.
In a reflection of his personal beliefs, Hegseth announced the creation of a religious affairs office within the Pentagon, stating that the military is “putting on the full armour of God.” The Defense Secretary’s speech underscored his intent to fundamentally reshape the US military’s culture, structure, and strategic outlook ahead of the November midterms.