Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has initiated a comprehensive review of equal opportunity programs within the military and among Department of Defense (DoD) civilian personnel, as outlined in a memorandum signed last Friday.
The memo, formally titled “Restoring Good Order and Discipline Through Balanced Accountability,” but informally dubbed “No More Walking on Eggshells” by Hegseth himself, mandates that each military department’s secretary assess existing programs within their respective branches.
“So, here’s the goal: empower leaders to make tough decisions, enforce standards, and restore good order and discipline,” Hegseth stated in a video announcement on X.
The review aims to address concerns that these complaint systems have been misused. Hegseth expressed his belief that while providing avenues for service members and civilians to report harassment and discrimination is valuable, the processes have occasionally been “weaponized” – employed unfairly to retaliate against superiors or colleagues.
Specifically, the memo directs department secretaries to:
- Ensure complaints lacking credible evidence are promptly dismissed.
- Consider positive actions (awards, promotions) for individuals accused until a complaint is substantiated.
- Impose disciplinary measures on those knowingly submitting false claims.
Secretaries have been given 45 days to complete these assessments.
Hegseth’s tenure as Secretary of Defense has been punctuated by scrutiny and allegations, leading some to suspect a personal understanding of the challenges associated with facing unsubstantiated accusations. Prior to his confirmation, he faced claims concerning sexual misconduct, substance abuse, and questionable management practices related to veterans’ organizations. These included an affidavit from a former family member alleging physical abuse towards his ex-wife, though she subsequently denied those claims.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Hegseth acknowledged personal imperfections but characterized the allegations against him as part of a “coordinated smear campaign.”
Since assuming office, Hegseth has been involved in two separate controversies concerning the encrypted messaging app Signal:
- Initially, he was implicated when discussions regarding potential U.S. strikes in Yemen surfaced within a Signal group chat, alongside National Security Advisor Mike Waltz. The administration later clarified that these conversations did not constitute official war plans.
- More recently, Hegseth has been accused of sharing military information – reportedly including flight schedules for F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen – within a Signal group including his wife, brother, and attorney.
Hegseth dismissed these latest allegations as an attempt to undermine President Donald Trump’s agenda during an appearance on “FOX & Friends.”
Despite speculation of potential removal from office, the White House has publicly reaffirmed its support for Hegseth.
“He is bringing monumental change to the Pentagon, and there’s a lot of people in the city who reject monumental change, and I think, frankly, that’s why we’ve seen a smear campaign against the Secretary of Defense since the moment that President Trump announced his nomination before the United States Senate,” stated White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
