'No more walking on eggshells': Hegseth vows to lift guardrails on military hazing, harassment

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Tuesday called for a sweeping overhaul of how the military handles allegations of hazing and other types of abuse, insisting that the military had grown too soft and promising to expunge the records of tough leaders with past infractions.

In a memo to senior Pentagon leaders and combatant commands, Hegseth called on his top adviser on personnel issues to conduct a 30-day review of how the military defines hazing, bullying and harassment. He also called for a 45-day review of how long certain allegations stay on someone's personnel record.

"Department policy defining conduct by Service members that constitutes hazing, bullying, and harassment is overly broad, jeopardizing combat readiness, mission accomplishment, and trust in the organization," Hegseth wrote as part of series of new policy directives released Tuesday. "To maintain a lethal and ready Force, leaders must be empowered to make the right decisions, enforce standards, and restore good order and discipline."

The orders were previewed in his speech at a Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, where several hundred general and flag officers from around the world were given just a few days notice to attend the gathering in person, without being told why their attendance was mandatory.

As the uniformed officers sat stone-faced, Hegseth said too often military leaders were "walking on eggshells." He said racist remarks and sexual harassment would remain against the law and would be "ruthlessly enforced." He added that insisting upon high standards in unit was "exactly the kind of discrimination we want."

"No more frivolous complaints, no more anonymous complaints, no more repeat complaints, no more smearing reputations," he told the officers.

"No more endless waiting, no more legal limbo. No more side-tracking careers. No more walking on eggshells," he added.

Hegseth also said drill sergeants should be allowed to "put their hands on recruits," ransack the rooms of enlistees and bring back "shark attacks" -- a practice where the drill sergeants swarm enlistees during basic training.

"Basic training is being restored to what it should be -- scary, tough and disciplined," he said.

A former Army major who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and as a guard at Guantanamo Bay, Hegseth became one of Trump's most vocal allies as a Fox News anchor. During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth was grilled on allegations of sexual assault and misconduct, excessive drinking and financial mismanagement in prior jobs.

Hegseth denied the accusations, calling them a "coordinated smear campaign" and insisted his experience in battle among the rank-and-file put him in a better position to manage a Defense Department that he says has loosened its standards.

What does the change to military policy mean?

Changes to military policy when it comes to certain offenses such as sexual harassment will only go so far without Congress. The Uniform Code of Military Justice, the federal law governing the military justice system, spells out how such cases are prosecuted.

Hegseth was careful to say the Pentagon would still comply with all laws. But he insisted the military hung on to so-called "adverse information" for too long.

"At my direction, we're making changes to the retention of adverse information on personnel records that will allow leaders with forgivable, earnest or minor infractions to not be encumbered by those infractions in perpetuity," he said during his speech.

According to the new policy memo, Hegseth says there should be a "preponderance of the evidence" as a minimum threshold for reporting adverse information. He also wants the rules to reinforce a 10-year rule to limit consideration of outdated material when it comes to considering a person for a promotion.

Hegseth also called to prohibit considering the same adverse information across multiple promotion points, except required by law.

Another policy calls for reforms to the Defense Department's independent watchdog office, the Inspector General, which is currently investigating Hegseth's own handling of classified material.

Among the changes called for is that "non-credible complaints" must be closed no later than seven business days after receipt. Command-directed investigations must be closed within 30 days, according to Hegseth.

Other directives call for enforcement of tougher department-wide fitness standards and calls for a 60-day review of what is taught at the military service academies and training schools.

Reaction to Hegseth's speech

The reaction to Hegseth's changes in policy was muted, as the audience of officers didn't react and several former officials opted for a "wait-and-see" approach or didn't want to speak publicly.

One Republican staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity, called the speech a "missed opportunity" and reflected a broader issue at the Pentagon in which senior officials appear out of their depth.

Instead of focusing on the defense industrial base, the upcoming national defense strategy, or preparing to face threats across the Indo-Pacific and Europe, Hegseth talked about fitness tests and haircuts, coming across as pedantic for a room of seasoned commanders, the staffer said.

Hegseth has said the speech was a first in a series of talks he plans to give, this one focused on personnel issues.

"Aside from a nod to workforce compensation improvements in the accompanying department memorandums, the event accomplished nothing and looked more like political theater than addressing serious challenges," the staffer said.