Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Announces Major Policy Changes in Quantico Address

Here is an auto-transcription of the 45 minute address by Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that the Pentagon will adopt the “War Department” designation and ordered changes to physical fitness standards, grooming requirements, and promotion policies across all military branches, framing the shift as a return to warfighting focus.

Speaking to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Hegseth outlined policy changes aimed at restoring a “warfighting culture” and eliminating policies he described as politically motivated distractions from combat readiness.

“The era of the Department of Defense is over,” Hegseth told assembled generals, admirals, and commanders in remarks delivered Tuesday morning. “From this moment forward, the only mission of the newly restored Department of War is this: war fighting, preparing for war and preparing to win, unrelenting and uncompromising in that pursuit.”

The announcement represents a significant policy direction affecting multiple aspects of military life from basic training protocols to senior officer evaluations. Hegseth referenced directives being sent to commands, though the full scope and formal implementation details were not detailed in the address.

Force Structure and Modernization Priorities

Hegseth emphasized the need for expanded military capabilities to meet current threats, stating the moment requires increased force structure and modernization across multiple domains.

“This urgent moment requires more troops, more munitions, more drones, more patriots, more submarines, more B-21 bombers,” Hegseth said at 4:01. “It requires more innovation, more AI in everything and ahead of the curve. More cyber effects, more counter-UAS, more space, more speed.”

The secretary said the administration is working to restore and refocus the defense industrial base and shipbuilding industry, with plans to onshore all critical components. He stated that President Trump has pressed allies and partners to increase their military capabilities and share defense burdens with the United States.

“America cannot do everything,” Hegseth said at 4:49. “The free world requires allies with real hard power, real military leadership, and real military capabilities.”

Hegseth said he plans to deliver a speech next month detailing what he called “speed, innovation, and generational acquisition reforms” the department is undertaking.

Physical Standards and Combat Readiness

Hegseth said each service will ensure that every requirement for combat military occupational specialties returns to what he termed “the highest male standard only,” reversing policies that had adjusted requirements since 2015 when combat arms positions opened to women. He introduced what he called the “War Department golden rule,” asking leaders whether they would want their own children serving in units under current standards.

“I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape, or in combat unit with females who can’t meet the same combat arms physical standards as men,” Hegseth said at 13:17.

The secretary said he is directing that all service members take physical fitness tests twice yearly and meet height and weight standards at the same intervals. He criticized the appearance of overweight personnel across ranks. “It’s tiring to look out at combat formations or really any formation and see fat troops,” he said at 15:38. “Likewise, it’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon.”

Combat troops will be required to pass fitness tests at a gender-neutral, age-normed male standard scored above 70 percent. Hegseth said he is directing the addition of a combat field test for combat arms units, executable in any environment with combat equipment, resembling the Army expert physical fitness assessment or Marine Corps combat fitness test.

Grooming Standards and Military Appearance

Hegseth announced an end to exemptions that had permitted beards and non-standard hairstyles in recent years. “No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression,” he said at 17:10 in the address. “We’re going to cut our hair, shave our beards, and adhere to standards.”

The policy eliminates most shaving profiles, which Hegseth described as “rampant and ridiculous.” He compared the enforcement to the broken windows theory of policing, suggesting small lapses in standards lead to larger discipline problems. Special Forces operators remain exempt from grooming requirements.

“If you want a beard, you can join Special Forces. If not, then shave,” Hegseth said at 17:39.

Inspector General and Equal Opportunity Process Changes

The secretary said he is issuing new policies to overhaul Inspector General, Equal Opportunity, and Military Equal Opportunity complaint processes, which he said had been “weaponized” against commanders enforcing standards. The changes eliminate anonymous complaints and repeat complainants, and expedite resolution of cases.

“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, no more walking on eggshells,” Hegseth said at 25:59.

He distinguished between illegal discrimination and legitimate enforcement of military standards, stating at 26:16 that telling service members “to shave or get a haircut or to get in shape or to fix their uniform or to show up on time or to work hard, that’s exactly the kind of discrimination we want.”

Hegseth said racism has been illegal in military formations since 1948 and sexual harassment remains illegal and will be “ruthlessly enforced.”

Standards Review and Historical Benchmarks

All services must conduct immediate reviews of standards altered since 2015, when combat arms positions opened to women, according to Hegseth. He introduced two assessment frameworks: the “1990 test,” asking whether standards from that era were superior, and the “E6 test,” asking whether changes empower or complicate leadership at the staff sergeant and petty officer level.

“What were the military standards in 1990? And if they have changed, tell me why,” Hegseth said at 21:07. “Was it a necessary change based on the evolving landscape of combat? Or was the change due to a softening, weakening, or gender-based pursuit of other priorities?”

Standards adjusted to meet racial quotas will also be eliminated, with all promotions and qualifications determined by merit alone, according to the remarks.

Hegseth said the changes are not intended to prevent women from serving. “This is not about preventing women from serving. We very much value the impact of female troops,” he said at 22:20. “Our female officers and NCOs are the absolute best in the world. But when it comes to any job that requires physical power to perform in combat, those physical standards must be high and gender neutral.”

He acknowledged the policy could result in women not qualifying for some combat positions. “If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is,” Hegseth said at 22:58. “If that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it. That is not the intent, but it could be the result.”

Training and Maintenance Focus

The secretary said he is directing “drastic” reductions in mandatory training requirements unrelated to combat skills, redirecting time to weapons proficiency and equipment maintenance. “Less PowerPoint briefings and fewer online courses, more time in the motor pool, and more time on the range,” he said at 36:10.

Basic training protocols will be restored to what Hegseth called their proper intensity. Drill instructors will be authorized to use physical contact, “shark attack” stress positions, and profanity to motivate recruits. “Yes, they can shark attack. They can toss bunks. They can swear. And yes, they can put their hands on recruits,” he said at 37:52, adding that such methods must not be reckless or violate law.

Hegseth said the department must ensure all service members maintain baseline proficiency in basic combat skills. “The next war, like the last, will likely not have a rear area,” he said at 38:55.

Leadership Changes and Personnel Policy

Hegseth defended his removal of multiple senior officers since taking office, including the previous Joint Chiefs chairman and several combatant commanders. He said leadership changes were necessary because those who benefited from previous policies cannot effectively implement new ones.

“It’s nearly impossible to change a culture with the same people who helped create or even benefited from that culture,” Hegseth said at 30:26. He acknowledged more leadership changes would follow, stating at 32:44: “Out with the Shirelis, the McKenzies, and the Millies, and in with the Stockdales, the Schwarzkopfs, and the Pattons.”

The secretary said he is making changes to personnel record retention policies, allowing leaders to avoid career-long penalties for minor or earnest mistakes. The goal, he said, is to encourage risk-taking and aggressive leadership rather than risk aversion.

“People make honest mistakes, and our mistakes should not define an entire career,” Hegseth said at 28:00. “Otherwise, we only try not to make mistakes, and that’s not the business we’re in.”

Hegseth said promotion processes will be reexamined to be “colorblind, gender-neutral, merit-based,” with changes coming soon to accelerate promotions for top performers and expedite removal of poor performers.

He urged officers uncomfortable with the new direction to resign, though he predicted most would embrace the changes. “If the words I’m speaking today are making your hearts sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign,” he said at 33:31. “But I suspect, I know, the overwhelming majority of you feel the opposite.”

Rules of Engagement and Warfighting Philosophy

The secretary said he is eliminating what he termed “politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement,” promising to give combat leaders maximum authority. “We untie the hands of our war fighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country,” he said at 41:10.

“No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement,” Hegseth said at 41:11. “Just common sense, maximum lethality, and authority for war fighters.”

Hegseth framed the department’s mission in explicitly offensive terms, saying defense is “inherently reactionary” while war is conducted “sparingly, on our own terms, and with clear aims.” He pointed to the 1991 Gulf War as a model, attributing its success partly to President Ronald Reagan’s military buildup and leadership shaped by Vietnam combat experience.

“We fight wars to win, not to defend,” Hegseth said at 40:53. “We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy.”

He invoked the principle “peace through strength,” stating at 1:52 that “the only people who actually deserve peace are those who are willing to wage war to defend it.”

Hegseth said the administration has eliminated what he called ideological programs from the department. “No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship. No more division, distraction or gender delusions,” he said at 10:31.

President Trump addressed the assembled military leaders following Hegseth’s remarks. View a summary of his speech here.

KEY POLICY HIGHLIGHTS WITH TIMESTAMPS

You can find the complete transcripts here.

Department Designation and Mission

• 0:35 — “The era of the Department of Defense is over”
• 1:15 — Mission defined as “war fighting, preparing for war and preparing to win”
• 1:52 — “The only people who actually deserve peace are those who are willing to wage war to defend it”

Force Structure and Modernization

• 4:01 — “More troops, more munitions, more drones, more patriots, more submarines, more B-21 bombers”
• 4:19 — “More innovation, more AI in everything and ahead of the curve. More cyber effects, more counter-UAS, more space, more speed”
• 4:32 — Restoring defense industrial base, shipbuilding industry, on-shoring critical components
• 4:49 — Getting allies to “step up and share the burden”
• 5:09 — Plans speech next month on “speed, innovation, and generational acquisition reforms”

Physical Fitness Standards

• 14:49 — All combat positions return to “highest male standard only”
• 15:38 — “It’s tiring to look out at combat formations…and see fat troops”
• 16:01 — “Completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon”
• 16:15 — All ranks must pass PT test and meet height/weight standards twice yearly
• 15:15 — New combat field test required for combat arms units
• 15:38 — Combat arms units must score above 70% on gender-neutral, age-normed male standard

Grooming and Appearance

• 17:10 — “No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression”
• 17:39 — “If you want a beard, you can join Special Forces. If not, then shave”
• 17:58 — “The era of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles is done”

Standards and Gender Policy

• 13:17 — Opposes women in combat units who “can’t meet the same combat arms physical standards as men”
• 20:50 — Standards altered “since 2015 when combat arms standards were changed to ensure females could qualify, must be returned to their original standard”
• 22:20 — “This is not about preventing women from serving. We very much value the impact of female troops”
• 22:40 — “When it comes to any job that requires physical power to perform in combat, those physical standards must be high and gender neutral”
• 22:58 — “If women can make it, excellent. If not, it is what it is”
• 23:09 — “If that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it”

Leadership and Promotion Reform

• 8:25 — “For too long, we’ve promoted too many uniformed leaders for the wrong reasons, based on their race, based on gender quotas”
• 28:34 — Promotions will be “colorblind, gender-neutral, merit-based”
• 28:56 — “We’ll promote top-performing officers and NCOs faster and get rid of poor performers more quickly”
• 30:07 — Defends firing senior officers including previous chairman and combatant commanders
• 32:44 — “Out with the Shirelis, the McKenzies, and the Millies, and in with the Stockdales, the Schwarzkopfs, and the Pattons”

Inspector General and Complaint Process

• 25:06 — “No more walking on eggshells policy” overhauls IG, EO, and MEO processes
• 25:59 — Eliminates “frivolous complaints,” “anonymous complaints,” and “repeat complainants”
• 26:16 — Telling troops “to shave or get a haircut or to get in shape or to fix their uniform or to show up on time or to work hard, that’s exactly the kind of discrimination we want”

Training and Basic Training

• 36:10 — “Less PowerPoint briefings and fewer online courses, more time in the motor pool, and more time on the range”
• 37:40 — Basic training “scary, tough, and disciplined”
• 37:52 — Drill sergeants authorized to “shark attack,” “toss bunks,” “swear,” and “put their hands on recruits”
• 38:27 — “Everyone, in every job, must be ready to join the fight if needed”
• 38:55 — “The next war, like the last, will likely not have a rear area”

Rules of Engagement and Warfighting

• 40:53 — “We fight wars to win, not to defend”
• 40:54 — “We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy”
• 41:10 — “No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement”
• 41:11 — Will “untie the hands of our war fighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country”
• 41:28 — “Just common sense, maximum lethality, and authority for war fighters”

Cultural and Policy Elimination

• 10:31 — “No more identity months, DEI offices, dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship”
• 10:58 — “We are done with that shit”

Assessment Frameworks

• 21:07 — The “1990 test” — compare current standards to 1990 benchmarks
• 22:07 — The “E6 test” — determine if changes help or hinder staff sergeant leadership
• 12:36 — “War Department golden rule”: “Do unto your unit as you would have done unto your own child’s unit”

Leadership Philosophy

• 28:00 — “People make honest mistakes, and our mistakes should not define an entire career”
• 33:31 — To officers uncomfortable with changes: “Do the honorable thing and resign”
• 42:11 — “We are not an army of one. We are a joint force of millions of selfless Americans. We are warriors”