Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth orders tougher grooming, fitness rules for U.S. troops

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is directing the Pentagon to tighten grooming, fitness and weight standards for active‑duty and reserve service members. The new guidance limits medical shaving waivers to 90‑day periods and requires commanders to recommend administrative separation for personnel who remain non‑compliant after 12 consecutive months of treatment. The policy also adds stricter limits on facial hair, long hair and other appearance items, with Hegseth emphasizing “no more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression” and calling for “fit, not fat” troops.

Hegseth’s push follows his visit to troops in the Middle East, where he expressed frustration over perceived lax enforcement. The changes affect waivers for conditions such as pseudofolliculitis barbae, a skin condition that disproportionately impacts Black men, raising concerns about racial implications. The memorandum, first issued last August, seeks to improve discipline, readiness and uniformity across the services.