A growing number of Pentagon insiders are reportedly turning against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, accusing him of “grandstanding” even as he works to restore discipline and destroy the woke culture that spread through the U.S. military during the Biden years.
According to The Washington Times, several senior officers claim they have “lost trust and respect” for Hegseth — not because of his policies, but because of how he’s implementing them. Yet many of these same officials quietly admit his changes are long overdue and widely popular among rank-and-file troops.
“The theater of it all is below our institution,” one senior officer told the paper. “Many of these reforms could have been done quietly. They didn’t have to be rolled out on stage.”
‘Woke Garbage Has No Place in the U.S. Military’
The backlash began after Hegseth’s fiery speech at Quantico last month, where he declared that the military was “done with woke garbage” and vowed to bring back combat-ready standards that had been weakened under the previous administration.
He announced that male combat standards would once again become the benchmark for all troops — and he wasn’t shy about calling out the bloated leadership culture in Washington.
“It’s embarrassing to see fat generals walking around,” Hegseth said. “We will hold leadership to the same standards we demand of our soldiers.”
While many enlisted troops and veterans cheered the remarks, some top generals were reportedly fuming.
“It was a massive waste of time,” one Army general complained. “If he ever had us, he lost us there.”
Generals Push Back as Enlistment Numbers Rise
Ironically, under Hegseth’s leadership, recruitment numbers have surged — proof, supporters say, that restoring traditional values is helping bring back the kind of young Americans who want to serve.
But critics inside the Pentagon warn that senior morale is collapsing. More than a dozen generals and admirals have either been fired or taken early retirement since Hegseth took office in January.
“We’re bleeding talent,” another officer claimed. “This isn’t a meritocracy. People are being pushed out for political reasons.”
The Real Divide: Merit vs. Politics
Hegseth’s vision of a color-blind, gender-blind meritocracy has clashed with deeply entrenched Pentagon bureaucracy. His mission is clear — return the U.S. military to excellence, accountability, and unapologetic patriotism.
Critics say his style is too bold. Supporters say he’s the first defense secretary in years with the courage to stand up to the swamp.
“Hegseth is doing what every conservative wanted — cutting woke nonsense and making the military strong again,” said one retired colonel. “That’s exactly why the establishment hates him.”
Bottom Line
As President Donald Trump pushes to rebuild America’s military might, Hegseth’s no-nonsense leadership is drawing fire from the same Pentagon insiders who let the armed forces become a social experiment under Biden.
For millions of veterans and conservatives, that’s not a problem — it’s a promise being kept.