WASHINGTON—Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a highly charged speech on Tuesday, demanding a radical shake-up of the U.S. military that refocuses entirely on combat readiness and rejects diversity and inclusion efforts, which he repeatedly labeled “woke” ideas.
Speaking to hundreds of generals and admirals hastily assembled in Virginia, Hegseth, a former Fox News host, claimed he was addressing “decades of decay” caused by “foolish and reckless political leaders.”
Key Directives and Criticisms
Hegseth’s message centered on restoring what he called a “warrior ethos”:
- Physical Fitness and Appearance: He harshly criticized out-of-shape personnel, stating, “It´s tiring to look out at combat formations, or really any formation, and see fat troops. Likewise, it´s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of Pentagon.” He called for the current highest male fitness standard to apply to all combat forces and mandated the strict application of grooming standards, including a one-year cap on shaving waivers—a policy disproportionately used by Black troops.
- Standards and Diversity: Hegseth argued that the military has promoted too many leaders based on “race, gender quotas, based on historic so-called firsts” rather than merit. He insisted, “Standards must be uniform, gender-neutral and high—if not, they´re not standards. They´re just suggestions, suggestions that get our sons and daughters killed.”
- Rules of Engagement: Hegseth announced the end of “politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement” that aim to prevent civilian casualties. He vowed to “untie the hands of our war fighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country,” stressing “common sense, maximum lethality, and authority for war fighters.”
- “No More Walking on Eggshells”: He instituted a policy to curb what he called “frivolous complaints, no more anonymous complaints, no more repeat complainants, no more smearing reputations,” and accused the Pentagon inspector general of being “weaponised.”
Hegseth concluded with an ultimatum for his senior officers: “If the words I´m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign.” This speech follows the recent purging of several top officers, including the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Charles “CQ” Brown.
