Hegseth confirms plan to cut 20% of US top military brass and rails at ‘beardos, weirdos and wimps’

Amid latest extraordinary attack on diversity, US defense secretary also suggests military is retaining service personnel at record' rates

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The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has confirmed plans to cut 20% of generals and admirals and declared no beardos, no weirdos, no wimps" would be tolerated inside the country's military.

Delivering his latest extraordinary attack on diversity, and dismissing reports of low morale within the US armed forces as false claims", Hegseth also suggested they were retaining service personnel at record" rates.