Pete Hegseth, a prominent figure in conservative circles and former Defense Secretary under Donald Trump, delivered an inflammatory speech to military generals at Quantico, Virginia, which has sparked significant debate regarding his views on military policy and gender inclusion. Hegseth’s 45-minute address was a masterclass in incitement. In it, he released proposals that would significantly alter the armed services’ procedures on equal opportunity, whistleblower protections, and diversity initiatives.
Hegseth’s recommendations would eliminate or severely curtail the processes in place that now enable our military service members to report such harassment and misconduct. In any case, it seems clear that he intends to shake up the military establishment. Yet he’s convinced that today’s accountability and reporting systems just aren’t suited for his idea of a return to a more testosterone fueled military culture.
Hegseth was on the record opposing women in combat. He claimed that applicants for these positions would be subject to the “highest male standard,” which he somehow claimed was in fact “gender neutral.” This claim raised alarm bells among advocates for gender equality within Canada’s armed forces. They contend that these standards could still inadvertently preclude qualified women from pursuing combat opportunities.
Hegseth’s position on workplace gender equality is made more confusing by his personal background. In 2020, he paid out of court to settle a lawsuit brought by a woman who said he sexually assaulted her. He has repeatedly denied the allegation outright, calling it a completely false claim. This background makes his current proposals to expand women’s roles in the military much more cynical.
During his confirmation speech, Hegseth stressed the need to have tougher physical fitness standards for non-combat roles. That’s often due to the incredible pay and status that accompany these positions. He suggested that if no women are able to pass these more rigorous tests for these special high-value roles, then that is fine and dandy. This idea has been widely panned by supporters of inclusive measures in the military.
The former Defense Secretary declared his intention to eliminate special permissions that allow soldiers, particularly Black soldiers, to grow beards. The common perception of this last change is that it’s an attempt to introduce some more homogeneity into the ranks. That should be at the service of cultural expression.
Hegseth was certainly not afraid to bring the heat with angry rhetoric to his speech targeted towards the generals. He bluntly stated, “You kill people and break things for a living,” and emphasized a disregard for political correctness, saying, “You are not politically correct and do not necessarily belong always in polite society.” His remarks have been largely seen as an endorsement of a more bellicose, less inclusive military culture.
In an apparent dismissal of diversity initiatives, Hegseth declared, “No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses,” signaling a stark departure from current efforts to promote inclusivity within the armed forces. His rhetoric and focus on punishing DEI initiatives match almost perfectly with this wider conservative backlash against DEI efforts in government, academia, and other industries.
Hegseth’s proposals aim much further than just nuts and bolts policy adjustments. Together, they portend a possibly larger change in the culture of the military establishment itself. Diversity and inclusion advocates are concerned. They worry that his approach would roll back decades of advances toward providing a more just demographic climate for all members of the military.
Former President Donald Trump appeared to endorse Hegseth’s approach during the event, stating, “You’re not going to see four years like we had with Biden and that group of incompetent people that ran that should have never been there.” Trump’s endorsement is a clue that he and the other man have something in common—namely a vision for the military’s future. They are united in their vision for where to take its leadership.
As discussions continue around Hegseth’s proposals and their potential impact on military culture, retired general Ben Hodges responded critically to Hegseth’s views on social media. Hegseth wrote a flippant response to Hodges’s post with, “Nice story, General.” This response was telling of the change he envisions and the chasm he perceives between a legacy military leadership.
Hegseth’s speech has understandably reopened debates over gender integration in the military. Now, folks are arguing about how to maintain combat effectiveness while fostering a diverse and inclusive space. The military has continued to face recruitment and retention issues. Public input now has the potential to shape major policy decisions for years to come.