Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has mandated that any service member requiring a shaving exemption for over a year must be discharged, requiring a medical treatment plan for all such exemptions. This updated policy, communicated in an August 20 memo, applies across all branches of the military, and is intended to uphold grooming standards. The move comes after years of relaxed appearance rules, with the majority of shaving waivers granted for those with pseudofolliculitis barbae, a condition common among Black men. While the memo doesn’t address treatment costs or treatment plans, it does maintain that the grooming standard is to be clean shaven.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has instructed his staff to identify and punish military personnel and Defense Department affiliates who have mocked or condoned the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Several service members have already been relieved of their duties due to their social media posts, and the Pentagon has urged the public to report any similar content. The department has emphasized that it has zero tolerance for such behavior, while also noting that some posts flagged do not necessarily condone the murder. In response, FEMA has placed an employee on administrative leave for posts critical of Kirk.
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In a recent interview, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated the Department of Defense’s new secondary title, “Department of War,” is meant to signal a desire for peace. President Trump signed an executive order to add the title, but Congressional approval is required for the formal renaming. Critics, including Senator Rand Paul, have already condemned the department’s actions, specifically the recent destruction of a Venezuelan boat, raising concerns about the department’s motivations. The new title and Hegseth’s explanation have drawn comparisons to George Orwell’s novel *1984* and other works.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted the U.S. possessed “absolute and complete authority” to kill suspected drug smugglers, citing the defense of the American people as justification for a recent airstrike against a Venezuelan boat in international waters. The strike, ordered by President Trump, targeted individuals allegedly affiliated with the Tren de Aragua crime group and transporting narcotics to the U.S., resulting in the deaths of eleven “narcoterrorists”. The incident has sparked controversy, with Venezuela and others questioning the authenticity of the strike video and the legal grounds for the action.
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In a move that is part of a larger effort to restore Confederate symbols, Defense chief Pete Hegseth is reintroducing a controversial painting of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at West Point. The painting, depicting Lee in his Confederate uniform accompanied by a slave, was originally displayed in 1952 during a period of racial segregation. Its reintroduction comes amidst efforts to reinstate Confederate symbols and honor figures who fought to preserve slavery, as was done during the Trump administration. This decision faces potential legal challenges due to existing laws concerning the removal of Confederate names and symbols from military institutions.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed National Guard members in Washington, D.C., to carry their service weapons while assisting with the President’s crime crackdown. This new guidance marks a shift from the Pentagon’s prior stance on arming the National Guard. More than 1,900 troops from various states have been deployed to support the D.C. National Guard in this mission. The administration has been highlighting the increased presence of National Guard members and federal law enforcement in the capital.
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On Wednesday, Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller faced a hostile reception at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station, where National Guard troops were stationed as part of President Trump’s crime crackdown. The trio was met with hecklers who voiced opposition to the administration’s policies, including chants of “Free DC” and protests about the war in Gaza. Despite the protests, the officials entered a Shake Shack restaurant, where Vance mingled with service members and spoke about the administration’s commitment to addressing crime. Miller dismissed the protesters as “stupid white hippies”, further inflaming the situation.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a CNN segment featuring Pastor Doug Wilson, a prominent Christian nationalist, which discussed Wilson’s views on women’s roles in society, including the potential repeal of women’s suffrage. When asked for his stance on women’s right to vote, the Pentagon provided a statement acknowledging Hegseth’s affiliation with Wilson’s church but did not directly address the question. This response, coupled with Hegseth’s past associations and public stances, raises questions about his views on women’s rights and whether he supports the right for them to vote.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reposted a video featuring Doug Wilson, a leader in the Christian evangelical movement he follows, advocating for the criminalization of gay sex and a return to earlier societal norms. The video also included commentary suggesting women should focus on child-rearing, supported by a female member who “submits” to her husband, and a call to repeal the Nineteenth Amendment. Hegseth’s past comments and actions, including stricter standards for women in the military and the removal of female leaders, have sparked controversy. Hegseth’s actions, including a Pentagon prayer circle led by his personal pastor who praised Donald Trump as divinely appointed, have raised concerns regarding the influence of his personal beliefs within the Defense Department.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a video featuring pastors advocating against women voting, sparking concern from a progressive evangelical organization. The video includes comments from Christian nationalist pastor Doug Wilson and others suggesting voting by households and opposing women in leadership roles. Hegseth, who has ties to the church affiliated with the video’s content, reposted the segment, coinciding with the Trump administration’s efforts to promote Christian nationalism. This move follows other actions, such as the creation of a federal task force and a White House faith office, raising concerns about the separation of church and state.
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John Q. Hosedrinker