War Department Secretary Pete Hegseth has made headlines once again—this time for unleashing a purge of obese National Guard soldiers.
Hegseth has consistently emphasized the importance of the U.S. military being physically fit and able to meet rigorous standards.
Now, the secretary isn’t just speaking on such a need; he’s acting on it.
In Chicago this week, several images of overweight soldiers surrounding ICE facilities went viral, prompting a response from Hegseth.
Many X users responded to the images by humiliating the soldiers, with one claiming they arrived in Chicago for food.
“Hegseth is going to lose his mind. I’m here for it. Texas National Guard arrives in Chiacgo…for the food I assume,” Fred Wellman said.
“Like Portland, they are there to protect the donuts,” another user wrote.
In response to such humiliating backlash, Hegseth shared a story on X confirming that the overweight soldiers were replaced for failing to meet physical standards.
“Standards are back,” the secretary announced.
The National Guard had released a statement pointing out the importance of soldiers being in rigorous physical condition before being mobilized.
“All National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are required to meet service-specific height, weight and physical fitness standards at all times. When mobilizing for active duty, members go through a validation process to ensure they meet requirements. On the rare occasions when members are found not in compliance, they will not go on mission,” the Guard said.
“They will be returned to their home station, and replacements who do meet standards will take their places. The National Guard, states, territories and District of Columbia are committed to excellence and lethality and are laser-focused on compliance and standards,” it added.
As the Daily Mail noted, the Army has specific criteria that soldiers must meet regarding their height and weight.
For example, a male soldier who is 5 feet 10 inches in height cannot exceed 178 pounds in weight. If they do, their eligibility in the Army will be in jeopardy.
Hegseth’s latest move comes a month after he spoke at Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia, where he criticized “fat troops” in the military.
“If the Secretary of War can do regular, hard PT, so can every member of our joint force,” he said.
The left has accused Hegseth of being opposed to female service members; however, the secretary clarified that he’s not against women serving in combat roles, but they need to meet physical standards just like “weak” men do.
“‘If women can make it, excellent, if they cannot — then so be it … it will also mean that weak men won’t qualify. This is combat,” the secretary said.
Since taking the oath of office to become the Secretary of the War Department, Hegseth has stressed the importance of standards returning to the U.S. military and has implemented various policies to ensure that soldiers meet these criteria.
