Trump’s Pentagon Pick Softens Stance on Women in Combat Roles Amid Scrutiny

Pete Hegseth, Trump’s choice for Pentagon chief, reconsiders his views on women in combat after tough questioning from lawmakers.

Trump’s Pentagon Pick Softens Stance on Women in Combat Roles Amid Scrutiny
Trump’s Pentagon Pick Softens Stance on Women in Combat Roles Amid Scrutiny

Washington: So, Pete Hegseth, who’s been picked by Trump to lead the Pentagon, had a bit of a change of heart. He faced some tough questions about his past comments on women in combat roles. It was quite the grilling!

He used to be pretty vocal against women serving in combat, claiming that standards were lowered to let them in. But during the Senate hearing, he backtracked a bit. He said he wouldn’t try to ban women from combat roles, which seemed like a smart move to secure some votes.

Senator Joni Ernst, an Iraq vet, asked him directly if he supports women in combat. Hegseth replied that, yes, women should have access to those roles as long as the standards stay high. He even mentioned he’d review the gender-neutral standards if he gets confirmed.

Hegseth had been pretty critical of the 2015 decision to allow women in combat. He once said, “We should not have women in combat roles.” He was worried about standards being changed and quotas being pushed, but it turns out the military doesn’t have any quotas for women in combat, which led to some back-and-forth during the hearing.

He’s all about bringing back a strong warrior ethos to the Pentagon. Interestingly, there are currently around 700 female Marines in infantry roles and nearly 4,000 women in combat-related jobs in the Army.

Since women were allowed in combat roles, some critics have claimed that the standards were lowered, which could put missions at risk. Hegseth emphasized that he wants high and equal standards, not just equitable ones. He’s got a big task ahead of him if he gets the job!

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