US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has eliminated DEI programs and ended identity month observances.
In a Friday address, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denounced diversity initiatives within the armed forces, calling the phrase “diversity is our strength” the “dumbest” in military history. He emphasized a commitment to equal treatment, fairness, and merit-based evaluation of individuals, while eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.
“In this department, we will treat everyone equally,” Hegseth stated. “We will treat everyone with fairness. We will treat everyone with respect, and we will judge you as an individual by your merit and by your commitment to the team and the mission.”
Hegseth, a former Fox News personality and National Guard veteran, argued that DEI programs are divisive and has consequently halted celebrations like Black History Month and Women’s History Month, claiming they prioritize certain groups over others, harming camaraderie and mission effectiveness.
Hegseth also addressed global security concerns, asserting that recent events, including the Afghanistan withdrawal, the Ukraine conflict, and the Hamas attack on Israel, have negatively impacted America’s global standing.
“Chaos happens when the perception of American strength is not complete,” he argued. “And so we aim to reestablish that deterrence.”
He promised accountability regarding the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, where the US-backed government collapsed unexpectedly.
The withdrawal, initially planned under President Trump, concluded a 20-year military campaign costing billions and resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. Former President Biden faced criticism for the handling of the pullout, which resulted in the deaths of 13 American service members and left thousands of Afghan allies behind.
“We are going to look back at what happened in Afghanistan and hold people accountable,” he said. “Not for retribution, but to understand what went wrong and why there was no accountability for it.”
Since assuming office, President Trump has actively rolled back DEI initiatives within the federal government, including signing orders to reduce protections for transgender individuals.
Trump’s 2017 ban on transgender service members was repealed by Biden in 2021, only to be reinstated by Trump in his second term. The Pentagon repealed its “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in 2011, but gender dysphoria remained grounds for discharge until 2016.
All military branches are currently experiencing significant recruiting shortfalls. Republican lawmakers attribute this to the Pentagon’s focus on diversity over military readiness.
A 2021 report commissioned by Senate Armed Services Committee Republicans concluded that the US Navy prioritized “wokeness” and diversity over winning wars.