Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of U.S. military officials to an in-person meeting Tuesday to announce directives for troops that include “gender-neutral” or “male-level” standards for physical fitness as well as an end to “woke” culture in the military.
“The era of politically correct, overly sensitive don’t-hurt-anyone’s-feelings leadership ends right now at every level,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth used the platform to slam physical fitness and grooming standards, environmental policies and transgender troops while touting the loosening of disciplinary rules and weakening hazing protections.
Hegseth said military leaders should “do the honorable thing and resign” if they don’t like his new approach.
Other news we’re following:
Federal government may shut down at midnight: The Senate needs to pass a measure extending federal funding to avoid the shutdown. Senate Democrats say they won’t vote for it unless Republicans include an extension of expiring health care benefits, among other demands, while the GOP has refused to negotiate at all, arguing that their “clean” bill should be noncontroversial. Thousands of federal workers would be furloughed or permanently laid off if the shutdown were to take effect.Trump and Netanyahu’s peace plan for Gaza: The plan would require Hamas, which has not yet responded to the deal, to effectively surrender in return for humanitarian aid for Palestinians and the promise of reconstruction. The proposal has only a vague promise that some day, perhaps, Palestinian statehood might be possible. If Hamas rejects the deal, the U.S. could give Israel an even freer hand to continue its punishing military campaign.National Guard could be deployed to Chicago: Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday it appeared the federal government would deploy 100 troops to the city. The sight of armed, camouflaged and masked Border Patrol agents making arrests near famous downtown Chicago landmarks has amplified concerns about the Trump administration’s growing federal intervention across U.S. cities. Memphis, Portland and New Orleans are also bracing for threatened federal law enforcement surges.