In a forceful address to hundreds of top U.S. military commanders summoned from around the globe, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared an end to "woke" culture within the armed forces, signaling a dramatic shift in military philosophy and policy. Hegseth asserted that the Department of Defense had become the "Woke Department" due to "foolish and reckless political leaders" and vowed, "But not anymore." He directly challenged the assembled generals and admirals, stating that if his agenda was not aligned with their views, they should "do the honorable thing and resign."

The new directives announced by Hegseth aim to restore a "warrior ethos" by reversing diversity and inclusion initiatives and re-establishing what he termed "highest male standard" for combat roles. This includes a review of physical fitness tests, which will now be set to male benchmarks only, and a stricter enforcement of grooming standards, with a particular emphasis on eliminating beards. Hegseth criticized the appearance of overweight service members, calling it "completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals in the halls of the Pentagon."

Hegseth also defended his recent firings of several high-ranking officers, including the Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs and a female Navy admiral, stating that those relieved were part of a "broken culture." He promised sweeping changes to how discrimination complaints and accusations of wrongdoing are handled, aiming to eliminate what he described as a culture of "walking on eggshells." The secretary indicated a review of definitions for "toxic leadership, bullying and hazing" to empower leaders to enforce standards without fear of retribution.

President Donald Trump, who also addressed the gathering, echoed Hegseth's sentiments, emphasizing the need for strength and a return to a "warrior spirit." Trump criticized former President Joe Biden's leadership and spoke about U.S. nuclear capabilities. Both leaders largely avoided discussion of the looming government shutdown, focusing instead on their vision for a more aggressive and less politically correct military.

The directives also signal changes to rules of engagement, with Hegseth stating the intention to "untie the hands of our war fighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country." He emphasized a move towards "maximum lethality" and away from what he characterized as "politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement." This overhaul includes empowering drill sergeants to conduct more intense training and potentially rescinding shaving profiles for most personnel, except for special forces.