US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has confirmed a 20 percent cut in America’s generals and admirals. He announced the move on Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

In his “State of the Force” address, Hegseth said 10 percent of generals and admirals had been fired. A further 10 percent of general-officer positions had been cut. “The media calls that a purge. I call it accountability,” he said.

There are more than 800 active-duty generals and admirals across the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Space Force. Hegseth also announced a new drone command for autonomous and robotic warfare.

He said a study of the future of warfare would be led in part by Elon Musk and Newt Gingrich. Other announcements included an Office of Religious Affairs and a new military base, the first in 40 years.

The speech is the second annual address of its kind. Hegseth used it to repeat his pledge to reshape the military’s leadership and culture.