United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth used a visit to a Blue Origin manufacturing facility in Florida to deliver a blunt message about the direction he wants the U.S. military to take, arguing that the Pentagon must strip away what he described as cultural and political distractions in order to restore discipline and sharpen combat readiness.
Speaking while touring the facility with Jeff Bezos present, Hegseth said the War Department is reviving what he called a renewed “warrior ethos” and moving away from policies he believes weaken cohesion and effectiveness.
“We’re eliminating the distractions and the debris,” Hegseth said. “No more DEI. No more dudes in dresses. No more climate change worship or social justice or political correctness.” He described the push as part of a broader effort to make the armed forces more prepared, more accountable, and more capable of fighting and winning decisively.
Hegseth said his remarks were aimed at internal Pentagon programs and initiatives related to diversity, gender identity, and social policy. In his view, those efforts have pulled attention away from core military priorities. Removing them, he argued, would allow service members to focus on training, unit cohesion, and operational performance. He described the objective as enabling warfighters to be “lethal, trained, disciplined, accountable, and ready.”
He also claimed the shift is already being felt across the chain of command. According to Hegseth, commanders have told him they feel more empowered to lead without bureaucratic constraints. He framed the change as restoring authority to commanders and reducing administrative barriers, saying leaders should be able to use their judgment to accomplish missions without what he called unnecessary oversight.
The comments came as part of a wider message centered on American industrial capacity and national security. While highlighting the Blue Origin facility, Hegseth praised the scale and sophistication of the operation, calling it among the most advanced in the world and arguing that such manufacturing strength is essential to maintaining national power and security. He emphasized that cutting-edge aerospace and space technology, in particular, plays a direct role in military strength.
Hegseth said the administration is working to “unleash” American industry and innovation, tying private-sector output to defense readiness. He credited President Trump with pushing competition and rejecting what he described as “business as usual” in government and inside the War Department. That approach, he said, is intended to help the United States build faster, operate at scale, and stay ahead of global competitors.
He also linked the cultural and organizational changes he described to recent military operations, arguing that commanders are being allowed to act more decisively and remove obstacles that limit effectiveness. Hegseth portrayed that shift as central to his mission in office, saying his job is to serve those who serve and ensure warfighters have the backing—and authority—they need.
