On Wednesday, January 29, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memorandum to reshape the combat effectiveness of the US military. The memo outlined plans to eliminate considerations of race and gender in military promotions and to establish a new special Pentagon task force to promote a policy of “merit-based, color-blind” principles throughout the entire US military.
In the memo titled “Restoring America’s Fighting Force,” Hegseth emphasized that the mission of the Department of Defense is to “win the nation’s wars.” He stressed the importance of having a lethal combat force that rewards individual initiative, excellence, and performance based on merit.
Hegseth also stated that the Department of Defense must ensure that the most qualified personnel are assigned to positions based on a policy of merit-based and color-blind principles, without considering gender, race, or ethnicity in evaluations for promotions, command, or special responsibilities. However, tasks with specific requirements may be considered as exceptions.
He further directed the establishment of a “Restore America’s Fighting Force Special Task Force” within the Department of Defense to oversee the dismantling of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives within the Pentagon under the Trump administration.
DEI initiatives refer to policies that consider quotas for representation of groups such as women, minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace, promoting diversity, equality, and inclusivity.
Hegseth’s latest directive not only prohibits the implementation of hiring quotas based on gender, race, or ethnicity but also bans the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT), DEI, or gender ideologies in curricula or workforce training programs.
The memorandum also instructs officials to prohibit the implementation of gender, race, and ethnicity-based quotas in recruiting for defense academic institutions, organizational structures, and professional fields.
Building the world’s most powerful US military is a top priority for Hegseth. In his inaugural speech on January 25, he stated, “We don’t seek war. We want to deter war… We want to responsibly end wars. But if we have to fight, we will approach and destroy the enemy with overwhelming and decisive force.”
On Monday, President Trump signed four executive orders aimed at strengthening the US military’s excellence to make it the world’s “most lethal and most efficient fighting force” to protect the American people and the nation. The four executive orders include: developing a “next-generation missile defense system” to protect the US, equivalent to the American version of the “Iron Dome” system; banning transgender individuals from openly serving in the military; reinstating the duties of discharged military personnel who refused COVID-19 vaccinations; and abolishing DEI policies within the military.