Hegseth Memo Bans Diversity and Equity Efforts in US Military

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is establishing a new task force to root out efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the US military — policies he has derided as “woke” and contrary to the Pentagon’s mission of readiness and lethality.

In a memorandum released Wednesday, the new Pentagon chief said the Defense Department must ensure “that the most qualified individuals are placed in positions of responsibility in accordance with merit-based, color-blind policies.”

Hegseth said the department won’t consider sex, race or ethnicity when evaluating individuals for promotion, command or special duty assignments. The order bars employing quotas on the ...