Generals silent as Hegseth ends ‘warrior ethos’ rally speech: ‘Out with the Milleys’ and ‘in with the Pattons’
US military to effectively exclude women from top combat roles
- Pete Hegseth, the "Secretary of War" appointed by US President Donald Trump, unveiled new directives to over 800 senior military leaders at a Marine Corps base in Virginia.
- He announced that all designated Combat Arms roles would revert to "highest male standard only," effectively reversing a 2015 directive that opened all combat roles to women.
- Hegseth also said that policies aimed at preventing hazing and bullying would be rolled back, arguing that definitions of "toxic leadership" had been "weaponized."
- He criticized past efforts to diversify the military, advocating for a return to "1990s standards" when women and LGBT+ people were barred from combat roles.
- The directives include reforms to the Pentagon Inspector General's office and Equal Opportunity offices, which will eliminate anonymous complaints for issues such as racial discrimination or sexual harassment.