Hegseth Orders Tougher Standards That Could Bar Women

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Sept. 30, 2025 at Quantico ordered new, tougher physical-fitness directives, saying standards should “return to the highest male standard” and adding “if that means no women qualify for some combat jobs, so be it.” The directives and his comments, plus prior remarks that nearly derailed his confirmation, drew sharp backlash from women veterans, advocacy groups and lawmakers including Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who warn the policy could effectively exclude women despite combat standards being gender‑neutral since 2016. Critics and opinion writers have accused Hegseth of misogyny and of privileging a narrow definition of “lethality,” while some defenders argue life‑and‑death combat roles require uniformly highest physical standards. A former Army commander warned Hegseth’s emphasis on toughness risks undermining leadership qualities, unit cohesion and fair complaint processes. The dispute highlights a broader Pentagon struggle over balancing rigorous combat readiness, gender equity and fair personnel processes as the new fitness directives are implemented.