Overview

• Secretary Pete Hegseth told assembled leaders to “prepare for war,” calling for a restored warrior ethos as he warned that enemies are gathering.
• Hegseth ordered all ranks to meet height and weight requirements and pass tougher fitness tests aligned to male benchmarks, and he banned beards and long hair for uniformed personnel.
• He directed a review of the Pentagon’s definitions of toxic leadership, harassment and hazing to give commanders more latitude to enforce standards without fear of reprisal.
• President Donald Trump vowed to “resurrect the warrior spirit,” framed unrest as an “enemy within,” and suggested using U.S. cities as training grounds as part of a domestic security push.
• More than 800 generals and admirals were summoned to Quantico for the rare in‑person meeting, which follows the executive order rebranding the department as the Department of War and reported cuts to four‑star billets that have drawn legal and allied scrutiny.