Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined a new vision for the US military on Tuesday, emphasizing a return to traditional values and policies. The plan aims to reduce “woke” initiatives and promote diversity through strict physical standards, including clean-shaven troops and only male roles for combat positions. Critics argue that these changes could lead to increased harassment and discrimination.
Hegseth’s directives include:
* Rolling back efforts to eradicate toxic culture in the military
* Ending reporting mechanisms for harassment, bullying, or toxic leadership
* Redefining “toxic” behavior and limiting it to specific instances
* Reversing policy on equal opportunity programs
The move has been met with skepticism from some officials, who see it as a step backward. Others worry about the potential consequences of such policies, including increased complaints and backsliding in handling issues like harassment.
The changes are part of Hegseth’s broader agenda to remove “woke” ideologies and promote traditional values within the military. Critics argue that this approach could undermine the diversity and inclusivity efforts made in recent years, which aimed to address toxic culture and ensure equal opportunities for all troops.
As the new policies take shape, many question whether they will effectively combat the issues of harassment and discrimination or exacerbate them.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/30/politics/hegseth-speech-culture-standards