Pete Hegseth announces major military changes and ends the programs

The war secretary, Pete Hegseth, announced Tuesday that all combat staff would be required to meet the highest male standard in order to maintain their positions.

Hegseth said the ministry must “restore a ruthless, ruthless and common sense of standards” application.

“We form warriors, not defenders. We fight wars to win, not to defend. Defense is something that you do all the time, it is intrinsically reactionary and can lead to overuse, surpassing and mission. War is something that you do with wall, in our own terms and with clear goals,” Hegseth told Tuesday morning.

Hegseth orde on the face on the slippery pentagon grooming standards

“We are fighting to win. We release and punish violence on the enemy,” he continued. “We are not fighting with stupid commitment rules. We detach the hands of our fighters to intimidate, demoralize, chase and kill the enemies of our country. More politically correct and dominant rules of engagement, just common sense, maximum lethality and authority for fighters.”

The Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to the high military leaders of the navy base of the corps quantico, in Virginia, on September 30, 2025. (Andrew Harnik / Pool via Reuters)

The secretary said that now, “each member of the joint force at each rank is necessary to take a test twice a year, as well as to meet the size and weight requirements twice a year, each year of service”. In addition, members of the joint force will have to do PT (physical training) every day, what HegSeth has declared is standard in many units but would be officially codified.

“If the Secretary of War can make the regular hard PT, all the most member of our joint force,” he said.

Hegseth denounced the “fats” and “large generals and admirals in the pentagon corridors”, arguing that physical standards for members of the American service had been eroded, and it was time to raise the bar.

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The secretary of war Pete Hegseth participates in the PT with the 1st battalion, 10th group of special forces (Airborne), a battalion of the Special Forces of the American army based in Stuttgart, in Germany. (Defsec Hegseth on X)

Hegseth noted that all the modified physical standards – including those changed in 2015 “when combat standards were modified to ensure that women could qualify” – should be returned to their original form. He said it also included standards he stated “manipulated to hit racial quotas,” calling them “just as unacceptable”.

While he said that the new requirement is that the troops meet the highest male standard, Hegseth insisted that this decision was not intended to prevent women from serving their country.

“It is not a question of preventing women from serving. We very much appreciate the impact of female troops. Our officers and non-commissioned officers are the best in the world. But with regard to any work that requires physical power to occur in combat, these physical standards must be raised and non-sexist. If women can return it,” if no women qualify for certain jobs. It is not intention, but it could be the result, while it is.

Hegseth has also announced new grooming standards. Troops should now be shaved and have a uniform haircut. Soldiers can obtain temporary medical exemptions or permanent religious exemptions for shaving rules.

“We are going to cut our hair, shave our beards and join the standards. Because it’s like the theory of the broken police windows, it’s like when you let the little things go, the big things end up,” said Hegseth. “If you want a beard, you can reach special forces. Otherwise, then shave.”

Exemptions from the beard of special forces operators are supposed to help them better blend with certain communities and civilians, according to the non -profit organization Injured warrior project.

The army has announced In July, “the new policy requires exemptions for non-religious reasons to be supported by a temporary medical profile (DA Form 3349-SG) and an exceptional note to policy (FTE) granted by an O-5 officer in the chain of command.”

The secretary of war, Pete Hegseth, welcomed the commander of the army general of the army David Hill upon arrival to make remarks to students, teachers and staff of the US Army War College on April 23, 2025 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. (Images Kevin Dietsch / Getty)

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The other part of the change that HegSeth announced included other steps to eliminate the “toxic ideological garbage” from the department.

“More months of identity, DEI offices (diversity, equity and inclusion), guys in dresses. More cult of climate change. More division, distraction or gender delusions,” he said. “As I said before, and I will say it, we have finished with this S —.”

Denouncing more unlocking in the army, Hegseth has announced major changes aimed at offering leaders of the second chances. He said that the Ministry of War was well aware that errors would be made with new directives and, as such, it would also implement changes in the retention of unfavorable information on staff files. This means that managers with “malaid, serious or minor offenses” on their files will not pass the rest of their careers to pay these errors, allowing them to take control without fear.

The Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, speaks to the high military leaders of the basis of the Marine Corps Quantico, Tuesday September 30, 2025 in Quantico, Virginia. (Andrew Harnik / Pool via AP)

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Throughout his speech to military leadership, Hegseth clearly indicated that the recovery of the Ministry of War was more than a change of name; It was also a major change in politics.

“The era of the Ministry of Defense is over,” he said. “From this moment, the only mission in the newly restored war department is as follows: war fights. Prepare for war and prepare to win.”