Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth outlined a sweeping vision for the US military on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, issuing 10 directives aimed at rolling back what he termed “woke” policies and demanding the resignation of any senior officer who disagrees with his agenda. Addressing hundreds of generals and admirals, who were ordered to attend the event, Hegseth emphasized a singular focus on “warfighting” and a departure from efforts promoting diversity and addressing harassment.
Hegseth’s Directives and Vision
In his address, Hegseth detailed his expectations for the military’s physical appearance and conduct. He stated there would be no “fat troops” or “fat generals and admirals,” mandated that troops be clean-shaven with few exemptions for religious or medical needs, and asserted that physical standards for combat jobs would be solely male, accepting that this might exclude women from those roles. The directives represent a significant reversal of policies implemented over the last decade that sought to eradicate toxic culture and improve recruitment and retention.
Hegseth also vowed to correct what he described as the “weaponization” of terms like “hazing” and “bullying,” announcing a review of their definitions. These efforts, he claimed, had gone too far and were undermining commanders. The Secretary framed these broader policies as part of an administration-wide effort to remove “social justice, politically correct and toxic ideological garbage” from the department, explicitly rejecting “identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses,” and “climate change worship.”
Reversing Past Policies
The directives largely roll back reforms that aimed to decrease harmful behaviors like harassment and discrimination, and to meet practical needs for recruitment. When former Defense Secretary Ash Carter opened combat roles to women in 2015, he noted the military “cannot afford to cut ourselves off from half the country’s talents and skills” for national defense. Hegseth’s new policies also include an overhaul of the Pentagon Inspector General, which has been reviewing his use of Signal for sensitive military discussions, and military equal opportunity programs.
Rules of Engagement and Leadership
Hegseth called for troops to disregard “stupid rules of engagement,” advocating for “overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy” and untying “the hands of our warfighters.” He criticized past military leaders, including retired US Army general Peter Chiarelli, and indicated a shift in the military’s leadership compass. President Trump, who spoke after Hegseth, told reporters he would fire officers “right on the spot” if he didn’t like them.
Reactions and Implications
The event itself reportedly incurred costs into the millions due to the logistics of gathering senior officers, many stationed overseas, on short notice. One former senior Pentagon official, who has served in both Republican and Democratic administrations, described Hegseth’s remarks as “uninspired,” suggesting they sounded more like a platoon leader addressing enlisted troops rather than a Secretary of Defense lecturing experienced officers. Another former senior defense official suggested that while some complaints to the IG or EO offices might be frivolous, the new policies could lead to a “backsliding” in handling issues like sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior, potentially protecting general officers from complaints by their troops.
Hegseth, a former National Guard major, has consistently criticized the military’s general officer corps for what he perceives as their involvement in the politicization of the military. He indicated that while threats to the homeland and deterring China were for “another speech,” his current focus remained on cultural issues central to his tenure.
