By — Dan Cooney Dan Cooney Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/watch-do-the-honorable-thing-and-resign-hegseth-tells-military-leaders-who-dislike-new-approach Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: ‘Do the honorable thing and resign,’ Hegseth tells military leaders who dislike new approach World Updated on Sep 30, 2025 2:44 PM EDT — Published on Sep 30, 2025 12:42 PM EDT Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed hundreds of U.S. military officials, who were quickly summoned from their posts around the globe, on Tuesday to announce several directives aimed at removing what he calls “woke garbage” in the armed forces. Watch the clip in our video player above. He directed that combat arms jobs in each branch of the U.S. military “returns to the highest male standard only” and instituted a combat field test. WATCH: Trump, Hegseth address rare gathering of U.S. military leaders from around the world “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, or troops who are not fully proficient on their assigned weapons platform or task, or under a leader who was the first, but not the best,” Hegseth said. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. In the address from the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, which lasted over an hour, Hegseth praised the Trump administration for eradicating “the social justice, politically correct and toxic ideological garbage that had infected our department.” Hegseth said the Pentagon is also reviewing its definitions of “toxic leadership,” hazing and bullying. While “nasty” bullying and hazing won’t be tolerated, he said, the terms had been “weaponized.” “Achieving and maintaining high standards is what you all do,” Hegseth said. “And if that makes me toxic, then so be it.” He told the military officials in attendance that if they disliked his approach, “then you should do the honorable thing and resign.” A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Dan Cooney Dan Cooney Dan Cooney is the PBS NewsHour's Social Media Producer/Coordinator. @IAmDanCooney
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed hundreds of U.S. military officials, who were quickly summoned from their posts around the globe, on Tuesday to announce several directives aimed at removing what he calls “woke garbage” in the armed forces. Watch the clip in our video player above. He directed that combat arms jobs in each branch of the U.S. military “returns to the highest male standard only” and instituted a combat field test. WATCH: Trump, Hegseth address rare gathering of U.S. military leaders from around the world “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, or troops who are not fully proficient on their assigned weapons platform or task, or under a leader who was the first, but not the best,” Hegseth said. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. In the address from the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, which lasted over an hour, Hegseth praised the Trump administration for eradicating “the social justice, politically correct and toxic ideological garbage that had infected our department.” Hegseth said the Pentagon is also reviewing its definitions of “toxic leadership,” hazing and bullying. While “nasty” bullying and hazing won’t be tolerated, he said, the terms had been “weaponized.” “Achieving and maintaining high standards is what you all do,” Hegseth said. “And if that makes me toxic, then so be it.” He told the military officials in attendance that if they disliked his approach, “then you should do the honorable thing and resign.” A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now