Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued new guidance on Friday ending the use of official Department of Defense resources for celebrations tied to racial or gender identity awareness months.
In his statement, Hegseth emphasized that unity is critical to the military’s warfighting mission and warned that efforts to divide the force by prioritizing certain groups over others weaken camaraderie and mission readiness.
Under the new policy, the military will no longer use government resources or man-hours to host events for National African American/Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and National American Indian Heritage Month.
However, service members and civilian employees may still attend such events in an unofficial capacity outside of duty hours.
Hegseth encouraged military installations, units, and offices to continue recognizing the valor and accomplishments of service members from all backgrounds, but with a focus on their character and contributions rather than identity-based classifications.
This directive takes effect immediately and follows Hegseth’s recent implementation of President Donald Trump’s executive order banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the military.
Hegseth, a combat veteran and former Fox News host, has vowed to instill a “warrior culture” at the Pentagon, emphasizing the need for strength and decisiveness in the face of global threats. Despite his military service in Iraq and Afghanistan, critics raised concerns about his lack of high-level defense experience and past allegations of misconduct, including accusations of heavy drinking and inappropriate behavior.
