DID Press: US War Department is reportedly entering a state of wartime readiness after Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described the current global situation as America’s “1939 moment”—a reference to the outbreak of World War II.

In a speech titled “Arsenal of Freedom,” Hegseth warned that the world is once again on the brink of large-scale conflict, saying: “We stand at a moment similar to 1939, when the world drifted toward World War II. Today, our enemies are uniting, and threats are expanding every day.”

The remarks come amid sweeping structural and personnel changes within the War Department, including the dismissal of tens of thousands of civilian employees—a move analysts interpret as a clear signal that Washington is preparing for a new era of military confrontation, possibly even involving nuclear scenarios.

Known for his hardline stance toward Iran and China, Hegseth emphasized that the U.S. must now project “hard power” and said: “We are putting the War Department and our industrial base on a wartime footing—we are building to win, if our enemies make a mistake.”

He added that decision-making within the department should now function “as it does in wartime” and called on the U.S. industrial sector to fully align with this mobilization effort.

Meanwhile, U.S. media outlets have reported the dismissal of over 60,000 civilian staff within the War Department—a move that, according to The Economic Times, has created deep mistrust among its workforce.
One employee told Defense One: “It feels like the War Department has declared war on its own civilian workers.”

Analysts believe the new strategy signals not only preparations for potential confrontations with China and Iran, but also a broader ideological shift within the U.S. power structure—one aimed at rebuilding the military arsenal and eliminating internal opposition to the country’s increasingly aggressive posture.