Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed senior Pentagon officials and military leaders to forge plans that would result in an 8 percent cut to the defense budget for each year over the next five years.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is considering firing generals and top military officers as soon as this week, according to two Defense officials and three Congressional sources. And President Trump's approval rating slips.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers asked Hegseth for justifications and transparency before any decisions to dismiss senior uniformed leaders.