Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reignited debate over women's combat fitness, calling for "the highest male standard" for all positions. He stated that if this means fewer women qualify for combat jobs, so be it. This stance, which nearly derailed his confirmation, faces pushback from female veterans and Democrats who insist current standards are already gender-neutral and rigorously applied. However, some Republican women, including Senator Joni Ernst, have voiced support for Hegseth's focus on "mission-first readiness" and eliminating "woke" policies.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.