In a striking address to top commanders Tuesday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth called on the U.S. military to adopt a more assertive posture, signaling what he described as a new era for the armed forces.
Speaking at a meeting in Quantico, Virginia, Hegseth told assembled generals and admirals, “We embrace the War Department, and we must. We are preparing every day to win, not just to defend. Defense is something you do all the time. It’s inherently reactionary and can lead to overuse, overreach, and mission creep,” according to CBS News.
Hegseth’s remarks underscored a shift toward offensive readiness, emphasizing the empowerment of troops in combat situations. “We also don’t fight with stupid rules of engagement,” he said. “We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country.”
He added a pointed challenge to any military leaders who disagreed with his approach: “If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink … resign.”
The comments highlight a sharp break from conventional rhetoric emphasizing restraint and defensive strategy, suggesting that Hegseth envisions a military prepared to project power aggressively rather than merely respond to threats. Analysts note that such statements could have significant implications for U.S. military doctrine and civil-military relations.
Hegseth declared that the military would no longer operate under “politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement.”
“You kill people and break things for a living,” he said, adding, “We lost our way, and we became the ‘woke’ department, but not anymore.”
Addressing senior officers directly, Hegseth warned, “If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign,” according to a video posted to X. He also indicated that military standards would be raised.
“War does not care if you’re a man or a woman, neither does the enemy,” Hegseth said, while clarifying that he is not seeking to block women from serving in combat roles.
“We very much value the impact of female troops — our female officers and NCOs are the absolute best in the world,” Hegseth said. “But when it comes to any job that requires physical power to perform in combat, those physical standards must be high and gender-neutral. If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is. If that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it. That is not the intent, but it could be the result.”
He added that the standards would apply equally to men, noting, “Weak men won’t qualify” either.
“We’re going to cut our hair, shave our beards, and adhere to standards,” Hegseth said in a video posted to X. “It’s like the broken windows theory of policing. If you let the small stuff go, the big stuff eventually goes. … If you want a beard, you can join special forces. If not, then shave.”
“The era of unprofessional appearance is over,” he added. “No more beardos. The era of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles is done.”
Hegseth emphasized that standards will apply across the board: “Simply put, if you do not meet the male-level physical standards for combat positions, cannot pass a PT test, or don’t want to shave and look professional, it’s time for a new position or a new profession,” he said, according to ABC.
He also announced an overhaul of the military complaint policy. “I call it the ‘No More Walking on Eggshells Policy,’” Hegseth said. “We are liberating commanders and NCOs. We are liberating you.”
“No more frivolous complaints, no more anonymous complaints, no more repeat complainants, no more smearing reputations, no more endless waiting, no more legal limbo, no more side-tracking careers, and no more walking on eggshells,” Hegseth said.
