But Hegseth’s problem with women in ground-combat units wasn’t just operational; it was moral. In a book he published a few months earlier, Hegseth devotes a chapter to what he calls “the ...

The Backdoor Way That Pete Hegseth Could Keep Women Out of Combat. Donald Trump’s Pentagon chief moderated his stance to get the job but is now pushing for change in the name of high standards.

Since the military opened ground-combat units to women, in 2016, 160 have earned their Ranger tabs. And in the vision that Pete Hegseth laid out days before being tapped as defense secretary last ...

Prior to becoming U.S. Secretary of Defense, former Fox & Friends co-host Pete Hegseth said during a podcast interview in November 2024 that he didn’t think female soldiers should be in combat.