Overview

• More than 800 generals and admirals were ordered to assemble at Marine Corps Base Quantico from posts around the world for the senior-level briefing.
• Secretary Pete Hegseth said all ranks must meet height, weight and fitness requirements, with harder tests aligned to what he called male physical standards.
• New appearance rules bar beards and long hair and target shaving waivers and individual expressions deemed unprofessional.
• Hegseth ordered a review of the department’s definitions of toxic leadership, harassment and intimidation to give commanders greater latitude to enforce standards without fear of reprisals.
• President Donald Trump attended and defended his executive move to style the Pentagon as the Department of War, while reporting noted the tougher benchmarks could limit women’s access to some combat roles and continue to exclude transgender personnel.