❓WHAT HAPPENED: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced new directives to senior military leaders, rolling back policies on combat roles for women and “weaponized” hazing and bullying prevention measures.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, senior military leaders, and flag-rank officers at a Marine Corps base in Virginia.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The directives were announced during a gathering on Tuesday at a Marine Corps base in Virginia.
💬KEY QUOTE: “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.” – Pete Hegseth
🎯IMPACT: Hegseth’s policies aim to reinstate male standards for combat roles, overhaul definitions of toxic leadership, and remove anonymous reporting processes for harassment and discrimination complaints.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed over 800 senior military leaders at a Marine Corps base in Virginia, unveiling a series of new directives aimed at reversing policies on combat roles for women and redefining standards for leadership and conduct in the military. The meeting, held on Tuesday, marked a significant shift in Pentagon policies under President Donald J. Trump.
Hegseth stated that his directives would restore “a ruthless, dispassionate and common sense application of standards” that are “uniform, gender neutral and high.” He emphasized that combat roles would return to the “highest male standard only,” effectively reversing a 2015 directive that opened all combat roles to women. “If you do not meet the male level physical standards for combat positions … it’s time for a new position or a new profession,” he said.
.@SecWar announces new directives to ensure that every military Combat MOS and Combat Arms position will return “to the highest male standard only — because this job is life or death.”
“Standards must be met… it’s common sense and core to who we are and what we do.” pic.twitter.com/diAHWfKOBY
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) September 30, 2025
The Secretary also criticized efforts to eliminate “toxic leadership” and claimed that definitions of hazing and bullying had been “weaponized” to undermine effective leaders. He announced a review of these definitions, aiming to empower leaders to enforce standards without fear of retribution. “Real, toxic leadership is promoting people based on immutable characteristics or quotas instead of based on merit,” Hegseth remarked.
Additionally, Hegseth revealed plans to reform the Pentagon Inspector General’s (IG) office and Equal Opportunity offices to prevent what he described as the “weaponization” of complaint processes. He stated that anonymous reporting for harassment and discrimination complaints would be eliminated, as well as “frivolous complaints” that he claimed have harmed reputations and careers.
The directives also include the implementation of a “1990 test,” which evaluates current military standards against those from 1990 to determine whether changes were necessary or the result of political priorities. Hegseth concluded by assuring military leaders that his reforms are designed to “put leadership back in the driver’s seat.”
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