Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced earlier today on X (formerly Twitter) that under his leadership, the Department of Defense (DoD) will no longer allow Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
Hegseth, sworn in as the 29th Secretary of Defense on Saturday after a contentious Senate vote, wasted no time setting the tone for his tenure. The confirmation vote, narrowly secured with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking a tie, faced opposition from Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski (AK), Susan Collins (ME), and Mitch McConnell (KY).
Following his swearing-in, Hegseth reported to work at the Pentagon immediately. In one of his first acts as Secretary of Defense, Hegseth ordered the immediate cessation of all DEI programs at the DoD, tweeting, “The President’s guidance (lawful orders) is clear: No more DEI at @DeptofDefense. The Pentagon will comply immediately. No exceptions, name changes, or delays.”
Following his swearing-in, the 29th Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrived at the Pentagon earlier today ready to get to work on behalf of America’s warriors. #AmericaFirst pic.twitter.com/cd4LGRmQwx
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) January 25, 2025
He further emphasized the importance of compliance, stating, “Those who do not comply will no longer work here.”
These actions align with President Trump’s broader directives aimed at abolishing federal DEI initiatives. In his inaugural address, Trump declared, “We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based.” On his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs,” placing all federal DEIA employees on administrative leave and initiating program termination.
The President’s guidance (lawful orders) is clear: No more DEI at @DeptofDefense.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) January 26, 2025
The Pentagon will comply, immediately.
No exceptions, name-changes, or delays. pic.twitter.com/KwRtxYRIbG
This week has already seen significant enforcement of these policies. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Lee Fagan was relieved of her position on Tuesday by Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamin Huffman, citing operational failures and “rampant political correctness” during her tenure.
Hegseth’s decisive steps reflect the administration’s stance that DEI programs undermine merit and national security. “Woke political correctness and hiring on the basis of skin color, gender, and sexual orientation is one of the greatest enemies to our country and our military today,” Hegseth said, signaling a return to merit-based principles in the armed forces.
