Defense SecretaryPete Hegsethhas order areview of the armed forces ’s curry standard — and he need his general to bet very tight at byssus .

In a memorandum tosenior military leadership , Hegseth demand for a inspection of all fittingness , consistence authorship , and curry banner belong back to January 2015 , “ which include but is not limit to beard .

# diving event into Hegseth

Defense SecretaryPete Hegsethhas regulate areview of the war machine ’s train standard — and he want his general to wait very intimately at beard .

Pete Hegseth testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill on January 14, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Pete Hegseth testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Jan. 14 with his “We the People” tattoo peeking out of his dress shirt cuff.Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

In a memorandum tosenior military leadership , Hegseth inquire for a followup of all fittingness , trunk authorship , and groom standard cash in one’s chips back to January 2015 , “ which include but is not trammel to beard .

Hegseth enunciate the inspection is necessary for “ exert the touchstone that activate the military man and charwoman of our war machine to protect the American multitude and our mother country as the Earth ’s most deadly and efficient fight force-out .

“ This limited review will crystalize how the Department has keep up the story of standard need over the late past times and the flight of any modification in those criterion , ” Hegseth add .

Hegseth is on amission to hit and cancelall diverseness , fairness , and inclusion body ( DEI ) contentedness and policy at the Defense Department , which may propose why beard are remark in the memorandum .

# dive into the Defense Department

“ This recapitulation will clear up how the Department has maintain the degree of standard expect over the late past times and the flight of any alteration in those touchstone , ” Hegseth add .

Hegseth is on amission to move out and cancelall diverseness , fairness , and comprehension ( DEI ) depicted object and policy at the Defense Department , which may propose why byssus are cite in the memorandum .

beard are broadly speaking not admit in the U.S. armed services , althoughexemptions are madefor those with aesculapian or spiritual grounds , and dissimilar outgrowth of the military machine have unlike insurance policy .

The Air Forceupdated its apparel insurance policy in 2019during PresidentDonald Trump ’s first condition to admit pillbox , whiskers , and hijab , allow Sikhs and Muslims to answer while bide by the pattern of their organized religion .

This was training and visual aspect restriction were also qualify under thebiden government in 2021 , under a directive “ to ameliorate the eudaemonia of all soldier .

# diving event into hegseth

the air forceupdated its garb insurance in 2019during presidentdonald trump ’s first full term to let in toque , face fungus , and hijab , allow sikhs and muslims to function while abide by the practice of their organized religion .

This was dressing and visual aspect restriction were also modify under thebiden governance in 2021 , under a directive “ to meliorate the welfare of all soldier .

Hegseth , a former Army National Guard military officer who was deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan , has antecedently been criticize for his appearing .

He has several tattoo on his weapon system and thorax , some ofwhich commentator say evokeideas of hawkish Christianity coarse among far - correct community .

Sen. Kevin Cramer ( R - ND ) need about these tattoo at Hegseth ’s substantiation earshot in January , enunciate , evidently sardonically , “ What is this very nauseous , ultra , antiblack tattoo that you have ?

Hegseth say his breast tattoo is the “ Jerusalem Cross , a historical Christian symbolization .

This was he read his tattoo prevent him from function at presidentjoe biden ’s inaugural as a national guardsman , claim he was name as an “ extremist , someone slimy of guard the startup of an incoming american chair .

hegseth ’s memorandum on groom standard does not note tattoo .

The Department of Defense had no scuttlebutt for the Daily Beast when need whether tattoo are include in the review article or if they would be in the futurity .