Pentagon inspector general's office to launch a probe into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss sensitive information about military operations in Yemen.

Signalgate: Pentagon launches probe into Pete Hegseth over leak of sensitive military information

A leaked Pentagon memo calls for the US military to prioritize resources against China, labeling it the "sole threat." The guidance emphasizes troop presence and warns against a potential Taiwan takeover.

Pentagon memo urges US military to prioritise its resources on China

Jennifer Hegseth, the wife of US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, has reportedly been present at sensitive military intelligence meetings, raising concerns over access to classified information.
Following the recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on a Pentagon group chat leak involving a journalist, new claims suggest Jennifer has attended at least two high-level defence meetings.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/pete-hegseth-shows-off-kafir-tattoo-netizens-slam-trump-advisers-islamophobia-heres-why-the-tattoo-is-controversial-8899267">Pete Hegseth shows off 'Kafir' tattoo; netizens slam Trump adviser's 'islamophobia'. Here's why it is controversial</a>
While it is not unusual for spouses of senior officials to hold lower-tier security clearances, a Pentagon spokesperson refused to confirm whether Jennifer has such clearance, according to WSJ.
<h2>Presence at military meetings</h2>
Jennifer Hegseth, a former Fox News producer and wife of the Defence Secretary since 2019, was allegedly present at a Pentagon meeting on 6 March. 
That meeting included UK Defence Secretary John Healey and the head of the UK&rsquo;s armed forces. Discussions focused on President Trump&rsquo;s decision to suspend military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.
She was also reportedly present at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting in Brussels last month. Defence allies gathered there to discuss military support for Ukraine, and officials familiar with these discussions noted that sensitive information is often exchanged.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-names-no-targets-no-locations-pete-hegseth-defends-himself-over-leak-of-shty-war-plans-8895469">'No names. No targets. No locations': Hegseth defends himself over leak of 'sh**ty war plans'</a>
<h2>Family involvement raises concerns</h2>
The WSJ report comes as Pete Hegseth attempts to reassure the public about his ability to safeguard military intelligence following the controversial Signal group chat leak. That incident saw a journalist gain access to discussions about planned US airstrikes in Yemen. The leak has sparked mixed reactions within the Republican Party, while at least one House Democrat has questioned Hegseth&rsquo;s sobriety at the time of the breach.
Despite these controversies, Hegseth has continued to rely on close family members. Reports from the Associated Press (AP) indicate that his younger brother, Phil Hegseth, has been actively involved as a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) liaison.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/signal-gate-trump-yemen-houthi-attack-plan-leak-to-journalist-defence-seretary-pete-hegseth-sued-read-signalgate-latest-8891853">Trump Yemen war plan leak scandal: US defence secy Pete Hegseth, others sued over leak of Signal chats to journalist</a>
A DHS spokesperson confirmed that Phil Hegseth had accompanied the Defence Secretary on a trip to meet law enforcement representatives across the Pacific. The visit included stops in Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Japan, as well as a meeting with UFC fighter Conor McGregor.
Although federal laws prohibit government officials from directly hiring relatives, the AP suggested that the Hegseth brothers may have circumvented this rule by working in different departments.
In response to the WSJ report, Sean Davis, CEO of the conservative publication The Federalist, defended Hegseth by comparing the situation to former First Lady Jill Biden&rsquo;s alleged involvement in government meetings.
&ldquo;Sorry, @WSJ, but you don&rsquo;t get to play this game after yawning when Jill Biden ran cabinet meetings because Joe Biden&rsquo;s brain was pudding&mdash;a fact you helped cover up for years,&rdquo; Davis tweeted.
The Pentagon has yet to comment further on Jennifer Hegseth&rsquo;s access to classified discussions.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-want-hegseth-waltz-to-resign-over-war-plan-leak-gabbard-claims-no-classified-material-in-signal-chat-8890127">Democrats want Hegseth, Waltz to resign over war plan leak; Gabbard claims 'no classified material'&nbsp;in&nbsp;Signal&nbsp;chat</a>
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Jennifer Hegseth, a former Fox News producer and wife of the Defence Secretary since 2019, was allegedly present at a Pentagon meeting on 6 March.

Jennifer Hegseth, the wife of US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, has reportedly been present at sensitive military intelligence meetings, raising concerns over access to classified information. Following the recent Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on a Pentagon group chat leak involving a journalist, new claims suggest Jennifer has attended at least two high-level defence meetings. Also read: Pete Hegseth shows off 'Kafir' tattoo; netizens slam Trump adviser's 'islamophobia'. Here's why it is controversial While it is not unusual for spouses of senior officials to hold lower-tier security clearances, a Pentagon spokesperson refused to confirm whether Jennifer has such clearance, according to WSJ. Presence at military meetings Jennifer Hegseth, a former Fox News producer and wife of the Defence Secretary since 2019, was allegedly present at a Pentagon meeting on 6 March. That meeting included UK Defence Secretary John Healey and the head of the UK’s armed forces. Discussions focused on President Trump’s decision to suspend military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. She was also reportedly present at a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) meeting in Brussels last month. Defence allies gathered there to discuss military support for Ukraine, and officials familiar with these discussions noted that sensitive information is often exchanged. Also read: 'No names. No targets. No locations': Hegseth defends himself over leak of 'sh**ty war plans' Family involvement raises concerns The WSJ report comes as Pete Hegseth attempts to reassure the public about his ability to safeguard military intelligence following the controversial Signal group chat leak. That incident saw a journalist gain access to discussions about planned US airstrikes in Yemen. The leak has sparked mixed reactions within the Republican Party, while at least one House Democrat has questioned Hegseth’s sobriety at the time of the breach. Despite these controversies, Hegseth has continued to rely on close family members. Reports from the Associated Press (AP) indicate that his younger brother, Phil Hegseth, has been actively involved as a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) liaison. Also read: Trump Yemen war plan leak scandal: US defence secy Pete Hegseth, others sued over leak of Signal chats to journalist A DHS spokesperson confirmed that Phil Hegseth had accompanied the Defence Secretary on a trip to meet law enforcement representatives across the Pacific. The visit included stops in Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and Japan, as well as a meeting with UFC fighter Conor McGregor. Although federal laws prohibit government officials from directly hiring relatives, the AP suggested that the Hegseth brothers may have circumvented this rule by working in different departments. In response to the WSJ report, Sean Davis, CEO of the conservative publication The Federalist, defended Hegseth by comparing the situation to former First Lady Jill Biden’s alleged involvement in government meetings. “Sorry, @WSJ, but you don’t get to play this game after yawning when Jill Biden ran cabinet meetings because Joe Biden’s brain was pudding—a fact you helped cover up for years,” Davis tweeted. The Pentagon has yet to comment further on Jennifer Hegseth’s access to classified discussions. Also read: Democrats want Hegseth, Waltz to resign over war plan leak; Gabbard claims 'no classified material' in Signal chat (With inputs from agencies)

After Signal leak fallout, Pete Hegseth faces new scrutiny as wife attends Ukraine war meetings without clearance

The Pentagon says it will investigate unauthorized leaks of national security information that could include lie detector tests of its staff. The reports of the leak come after the Department of Government Efficiency visited the Pentagon on Friday to talk about inefficiencies, efficiencies, and innovations. The Department of Defense said its intelligence and law enforcement arms are carrying out the inquiry to find out who leaked information to the press. Media reports have stated that Musk was briefed on the Trump administration's plans for how the US would handle a potential war with China, a claim that both Trump and Musk denied. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also denied claims of Musk being briefed about US-China plans. Watch in for more details!

US: Pentagon launches investigation into leaks after Musk's visit

DOGE head Elon Musk&rsquo;s visit to the Pentagon on Friday (March 21) sparked widespread speculation, particularly after reports suggested that he would be briefed on possible US military plans in the event of a conflict with China.
However, both Musk and US officials, including President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, strongly denied those claims.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-taps-boeing-for-f-47-fighter-jet-trump-says-enemies-wont-know-what-hit-them-8877846">Boeing to build sixth-gen fighter jet F-47, Trump says enemies &lsquo;won&rsquo;t know what hit them&rsquo;</a>
<h2>Musk's 80-minute meeting with Hegseth</h2>
Musk, who is currently heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump&rsquo;s administration, held an 80-minute meeting with Hegseth at the Pentagon. &ldquo;If there&rsquo;s anything I can do to be helpful, I would like us to have a good outcome here,&rdquo; Musk said as he left.
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<h2>'He&rsquo;s there for DOGE, not for China'</h2>
Speaking from the White House later in the day, Trump dismissed reports that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO had been shown any military strategy. &ldquo;They made that up because it&rsquo;s a good story to make up. They&rsquo;re very dishonest people,&rdquo; he said, referring to The New York Times, which initially reported on the alleged China briefing.
&ldquo;I called up Pete [Hegseth] and I said, &lsquo;Is there any truth to that?&rsquo; Absolutely not. He&rsquo;s there for DOGE, not there for China. And if you ever mentioned China, I think he&rsquo;d walk out of the room,&rdquo; Trump added.
Earlier, The New York Times cited anonymous sources claiming Musk was to be briefed on secret war plans concerning China. Other outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, published follow-ups citing their unnamed officials. Despite this, both Trump and Hegseth remained firm in their denials.
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<h2>'Meeting about innovation, efficiencies and smarter production'</h2>
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies [and] smarter production. Gonna be great!,&rdquo; Hegseth posted on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of the meeting.
Musk also took to X to respond, calling the reports &ldquo;pure propaganda.&rdquo; He added, &ldquo;I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information. They will be found.&rdquo;
Questions about Musk&rsquo;s involvement in any military plans have raised eyebrows due to his business ties in China. As the owner of Tesla and SpaceX, both of which have US government contracts, his potential access to sensitive information caused concern among critics.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-thrashes-report-claiming-pentagon-would-brief-musk-on-potential-war-with-china-calls-it-fake-news-8875389">Trump trashes report claiming Pentagon would brief Musk on potential war with China, calls it &lsquo;Fake News&rsquo;</a>
<h2>'No war plans'</h2>
When asked directly about the meeting, Trump said, &ldquo;You know, Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that, but it was such a fake story.&rdquo;
Hegseth added, &ldquo;Elon Musk is a patriot. Elon Musk is an innovator. Elon Musk provides a lot of capabilities our government and our military rely on, and I&rsquo;m grateful for that.&rdquo;
He continued, &ldquo;We welcomed him today to the Pentagon to talk about DOGE, to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations. It was a great informal conversation. The rest of that reporting was fake. There was no war plans. There was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans. That&rsquo;s not what we were doing at the Pentagon.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Musk, who is currently heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump’s administration, held an 80-minute meeting with Hegseth at the Pentagon.

DOGE head Elon Musk’s visit to the Pentagon on Friday (March 21) sparked widespread speculation, particularly after reports suggested that he would be briefed on possible US military plans in the event of a conflict with China. However, both Musk and US officials, including President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, strongly denied those claims. Also read: Boeing to build sixth-gen fighter jet F-47, Trump says enemies ‘won’t know what hit them’ Musk's 80-minute meeting with Hegseth Musk, who is currently heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Trump’s administration, held an 80-minute meeting with Hegseth at the Pentagon. “If there’s anything I can do to be helpful, I would like us to have a good outcome here,” Musk said as he left. Also read: US no longer safe for tourists? UK, Germany issue travel warnings after woman detained ‘like Hannibal’ 'He’s there for DOGE, not for China' Speaking from the White House later in the day, Trump dismissed reports that the Tesla and SpaceX CEO had been shown any military strategy. “They made that up because it’s a good story to make up. They’re very dishonest people,” he said, referring to The New York Times, which initially reported on the alleged China briefing. “I called up Pete [Hegseth] and I said, ‘Is there any truth to that?’ Absolutely not. He’s there for DOGE, not there for China. And if you ever mentioned China, I think he’d walk out of the room,” Trump added. Earlier, The New York Times cited anonymous sources claiming Musk was to be briefed on secret war plans concerning China. Other outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, published follow-ups citing their unnamed officials. Despite this, both Trump and Hegseth remained firm in their denials. Also read: ‘Could get jailed in El Salvador prisons’: Trump threatens ‘terrorists’ harming Musk, Tesla with 20-year jail 'Meeting about innovation, efficiencies and smarter production' “It’s an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies [and] smarter production. Gonna be great!,” Hegseth posted on X (formerly Twitter) ahead of the meeting. Musk also took to X to respond, calling the reports “pure propaganda.” He added, “I look forward to the prosecutions of those at the Pentagon who are leaking maliciously false information. They will be found.” Questions about Musk’s involvement in any military plans have raised eyebrows due to his business ties in China. As the owner of Tesla and SpaceX, both of which have US government contracts, his potential access to sensitive information caused concern among critics. Also read: Trump trashes report claiming Pentagon would brief Musk on potential war with China, calls it ‘Fake News’ 'No war plans' When asked directly about the meeting, Trump said, “You know, Elon has businesses in China, and he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that, but it was such a fake story.” Hegseth added, “Elon Musk is a patriot. Elon Musk is an innovator. Elon Musk provides a lot of capabilities our government and our military rely on, and I’m grateful for that.” He continued, “We welcomed him today to the Pentagon to talk about DOGE, to talk about efficiencies, to talk about innovations. It was a great informal conversation. The rest of that reporting was fake. There was no war plans. There was no Chinese war plans. There was no secret plans. That’s not what we were doing at the Pentagon.” (With inputs from agencies)

China war or DOGE cuts? Inside Musk’s controversial Pentagon visit that Trump, Hegseth rushed to defend

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is set to meet with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to discuss potential collaborations. The meeting comes amid growing interest in the intersection of technology and defense.

US: Elon Musk to meet military leaders, defence secy

United States President Donald Trump trashed a media report claiming tech billionaire Elon Musk will be briefed on Friday by the Pentagon on the US military's plan for any war that might break out with China. Trump called it "Fake News" and noted that "China will not even be mentioned or discussed".
The New York Times, citing US officials, reported on Thursday that Musk, who is Trump's close ally, is due to be briefed by the Pentagon on the US military's plan.&nbsp;
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<h2>'China will not even be mentioned'&nbsp;</h2>
In response, Trump took to his Truth Social account and posted, "The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times. They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential "war with China". How ridiculous?"
He added, "China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!"&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/trump-20-goodbye-to-soft-power-hello-to-tariffs-8874924">Trump 2.0 &ndash; Goodbye to soft power, hello to tariffs</a>
The Pentagon confirmed that Musk will be visiting on Friday, which means a meeting is scheduled to happen, but details were not revealed.&nbsp;
"The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary (Pete) Hegseth and is just visiting," a Pentagon spokesperson said.&nbsp;
The report raised many eyebrows as Musk getting access to the top secret military plan would be a sharp expansion of his role as a Trump adviser, presently just spearheading efforts to cut US government spending.&nbsp;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/schumer-slams-trumps-bid-to-shut-education-department-says-it-is-constitutional-crisis-and-democracy-is-at-risk-8874861">Schumer says 'democracy at risk' as Trump signs order to dismantle Education Department</a>
Furthermore, it would also raise concerns over conflicts of interest for Musk, who, as the head of both Tesla and SpaceX, has business interests in China and with the Pentagon.&nbsp;
The NYT report even mentioned that the briefing for the China war plan has about 20 to 30 slides that lay out how the United States would fight such a conflict.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-talks-with-x-grok-will-india-take-action-after-musks-x-sues-modi-govt-over-alleged-censorship-8874168">'In talks with X, Grok': Will India take action after Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship?</a>
Meanwhile, after the report was published, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, in a statement, said, "The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting."&nbsp;
In a separate post on X, Parnell posted a message, "This is 100% Fake News. Just brazenly &amp; maliciously wrong. Elon Musk is a patriot. We are proud to have him at the Pentagon."&nbsp;
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also commented on X later in a post, saying: "This is NOT a meeting about 'top secret China war' plans. It's an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies &amp; smarter production. Gonna be great!"&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World | The Pentagon was scheduled on Friday to brief Elon Musk on the US military’s plan for any war that might break out with China, two U.S. officials said on Thursday

United States President Donald Trump trashed a media report claiming tech billionaire Elon Musk will be briefed on Friday by the Pentagon on the US military's plan for any war that might break out with China. Trump called it "Fake News" and noted that "China will not even be mentioned or discussed". The New York Times, citing US officials, reported on Thursday that Musk, who is Trump's close ally, is due to be briefed by the Pentagon on the US military's plan. Also read: Massive cash pile found in Delhi HC judge's house after fire breaks out, Justice Yashwant Varma transferred 'China will not even be mentioned' In response, Trump took to his Truth Social account and posted, "The Fake News is at it again, this time the Failing New York Times. They said, incorrectly, that Elon Musk is going to the Pentagon tomorrow to be briefed on any potential "war with China". How ridiculous?" He added, "China will not even be mentioned or discussed. How disgraceful it is that the discredited media can make up such lies. Anyway, the story is completely untrue!!!" Also read: Trump 2.0 – Goodbye to soft power, hello to tariffs The Pentagon confirmed that Musk will be visiting on Friday, which means a meeting is scheduled to happen, but details were not revealed. "The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary (Pete) Hegseth and is just visiting," a Pentagon spokesperson said. The report raised many eyebrows as Musk getting access to the top secret military plan would be a sharp expansion of his role as a Trump adviser, presently just spearheading efforts to cut US government spending. Also read: Schumer says 'democracy at risk' as Trump signs order to dismantle Education Department Furthermore, it would also raise concerns over conflicts of interest for Musk, who, as the head of both Tesla and SpaceX, has business interests in China and with the Pentagon. The NYT report even mentioned that the briefing for the China war plan has about 20 to 30 slides that lay out how the United States would fight such a conflict. Also read: 'In talks with X, Grok': Will India take action after Musk's X sues Modi govt over alleged censorship? Meanwhile, after the report was published, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, in a statement, said, "The Defense Department is excited to welcome Elon Musk to the Pentagon on Friday. He was invited by Secretary Hegseth and is just visiting." In a separate post on X, Parnell posted a message, "This is 100% Fake News. Just brazenly & maliciously wrong. Elon Musk is a patriot. We are proud to have him at the Pentagon." Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also commented on X later in a post, saying: "This is NOT a meeting about 'top secret China war' plans. It's an informal meeting about innovation, efficiencies & smarter production. Gonna be great!" (With inputs from agencies)

Trump trashes report claiming Pentagon would brief Musk on potential war with China, calls it ‘Fake News’

The Trump administration has called on the Pentagon to provide military options to ensure the country has full access to the Panama Canal. Watch in for more details!

Trump orders ideas from Pentagon for ‘unfettered’ access to Panama canal

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a comprehensive review of &ldquo;military fitness, body composition and grooming&rdquo; across all the US armed forces on Wednesday (Mar 12).
The directive comes after the Biden administration loosened restrictions on various rules, including grooming and hairstyle for military service members. This also includes body fat percentage standards for new recruits.
<h2>'High standards make US military greatest'</h2>
In the Department of Defence memo, Hegseth wrote, &ldquo;High standards are what made the United States military the greatest fighting force on the planet.&rdquo;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-defence-secy-pete-hegseth-says-one-doesnt-have-to-trust-putin-to-negotiate-ukraine-peace-deal-8721596">US defence secy Pete Hegseth says one doesn't have to 'trust' Putin to negotiate Ukraine peace deal</a> &nbsp; &ldquo;The strength of our military is our unity and our shared purpose,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;We are made stronger and more disciplined with high, uncompromising, and clear standards.&rdquo;
The review, conducted by the Pentagon under secretary of defence, will inspect the &ldquo;existing standards set by the Military Departments pertaining to physical fitness, body composition, and grooming, which includes but is not limited to beards.&rdquo; It will also examine how these standards have changed over the past decade.
&ldquo;The review will also provide insight on why those standards changed and the impact of those changes,&rdquo; the defence secretary added.&nbsp;
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-shares-intelligence-with-ukraine-for-defence-not-for-attacks-on-russia-how-crucial-it-is-for-kyiv-8834121">US shares intelligence with Ukraine for defence, not for attacks on Russia. How crucial it is for Kyiv?</a>
He further said, &ldquo;We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world&rsquo;s most lethal and effective fighting force.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging,&rdquo; he noted. &ldquo;This review will illuminate how the Department has maintained the level of standards required over the recent past and the trajectory of any change in those standards.&rdquo;
<h2>Military standards</h2>
Each branch of the US military has its own standards for physical fitness and body composition. They also have guidelines for the type of haircuts and facial hair the service members are allowed to maintain.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/theres-nothing-for-russia-putin-aide-slams-us-ceasefire-proposal-to-end-ukraine-war-8850979">'There's nothing for Russia': Putin aide slams US ceasefire proposal to end Ukraine war</a>
Generally, service members are banned from keeping beards unless they have a medical or religious exemption.
Under the Biden administration, the grooming standards in the army were relaxed. As part of an effort to be &ldquo;more diverse&rdquo; and &ldquo;inclusive&rdquo;, women were permitted to wear earrings and dye their hair, while men could wear nail polish.
The Biden administration also raised the permitted body fat in the US Air Force allowed for new recruits form 20 per cent to 26 per cent for males and from 28 per cent to 36 per cent for females.
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Last month, Hegseth said that the department would now renew its focus on &ldquo;basic stuff&rdquo; such as fitness and grooming under the Trump administration.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not saying if you violate grooming standards, you&rsquo;re a criminal,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The analogy is incomplete. But if you violate the small stuff and you allow it to happen, it creates a culture where the big stuff, you&rsquo;re not held accountable for.&rdquo;
(With inputs from agencies)

World | The directive comes after the Biden administration loosened restrictions on various rules, including grooming and hairstyle for military service members.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a comprehensive review of “military fitness, body composition and grooming” across all the US armed forces on Wednesday (Mar 12). The directive comes after the Biden administration loosened restrictions on various rules, including grooming and hairstyle for military service members. This also includes body fat percentage standards for new recruits. 'High standards make US military greatest' In the Department of Defence memo, Hegseth wrote, “High standards are what made the United States military the greatest fighting force on the planet.” Also read | US defence secy Pete Hegseth says one doesn't have to 'trust' Putin to negotiate Ukraine peace deal “The strength of our military is our unity and our shared purpose,” he added. “We are made stronger and more disciplined with high, uncompromising, and clear standards.” The review, conducted by the Pentagon under secretary of defence, will inspect the “existing standards set by the Military Departments pertaining to physical fitness, body composition, and grooming, which includes but is not limited to beards.” It will also examine how these standards have changed over the past decade. “The review will also provide insight on why those standards changed and the impact of those changes,” the defence secretary added. Also read | US shares intelligence with Ukraine for defence, not for attacks on Russia. How crucial it is for Kyiv? He further said, “We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force.” “Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging,” he noted. “This review will illuminate how the Department has maintained the level of standards required over the recent past and the trajectory of any change in those standards.” Military standards Each branch of the US military has its own standards for physical fitness and body composition. They also have guidelines for the type of haircuts and facial hair the service members are allowed to maintain. Also read | 'There's nothing for Russia': Putin aide slams US ceasefire proposal to end Ukraine war Generally, service members are banned from keeping beards unless they have a medical or religious exemption. Under the Biden administration, the grooming standards in the army were relaxed. As part of an effort to be “more diverse” and “inclusive”, women were permitted to wear earrings and dye their hair, while men could wear nail polish. The Biden administration also raised the permitted body fat in the US Air Force allowed for new recruits form 20 per cent to 26 per cent for males and from 28 per cent to 36 per cent for females. Also read | Trump Administration initiates rollback of Biden's electric vehicle regulations Last month, Hegseth said that the department would now renew its focus on “basic stuff” such as fitness and grooming under the Trump administration. “I’m not saying if you violate grooming standards, you’re a criminal,” he said. “The analogy is incomplete. But if you violate the small stuff and you allow it to happen, it creates a culture where the big stuff, you’re not held accountable for.” (With inputs from agencies)

From hairstyles to body fat: US Defence Secy Pete Hegseth orders review on Biden’s relaxed military standards

To eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content from military platforms, the Pentagon has reportedly marked several images for removal simply because they contain the word &ldquo;gay,&rdquo; regardless of context.
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One such image, as reported by the Associated Press, is a historic photograph of the Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945. The image features pilot Col. Paul Tibbets Jr. standing in front of the aircraft, which was named after his mother, Enola Gay Tibbets.
Another flagged image is a headshot of Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. A.C. Gay. Additionally, photos of Army Corps of Engineers workers, including one individual with the surname Gay, have also been marked for possible deletion.
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According to the AP, a total of 26,000 images have been flagged so far, though an official stated that the number could rise to 100,000 once social media posts and other websites are taken into account. The official also noted that it is unclear whether the database of flagged images is final.
Much of the material subject to removal under Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth&rsquo;s directive includes content celebrating military contributions from women and minority groups. 
Hegseth had given the military until Wednesday to erase content related to diversity initiatives, following President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/donald-trump" rel="dofollow">Donald Trump&rsquo;s</a> executive order terminating such programmes across the federal government.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-us-president-donald-trump-warns-of-sanctions-tariffs-on-russia-until-ceasefire-is-reached-with-ukraine-8831867">'Get to table right now': Trump warns of sanctions, tariffs on Russia 'until ceasefire is reached' with Ukraine</a>
The Pentagon&rsquo;s broad approach mirrors a recent incident involving the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In an attempt to eliminate DEI-related references from its manuals, the Trump administration also inadvertently removed unrelated terms, such as references to the &ldquo;inclusion&rdquo; of a taxpayer&rsquo;s identification number on a form.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: One such image, as reported by the Associated Press, is a historic photograph of the Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945.

To eliminate all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content from military platforms, the Pentagon has reportedly marked several images for removal simply because they contain the word “gay,” regardless of context. Also read: Black Hawk pilot, ATC missteps, Obama, or DEI hiring: Who's really to blame for the Washington DC plane crash? One such image, as reported by the Associated Press, is a historic photograph of the Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima in August 1945. The image features pilot Col. Paul Tibbets Jr. standing in front of the aircraft, which was named after his mother, Enola Gay Tibbets. Another flagged image is a headshot of Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. A.C. Gay. Additionally, photos of Army Corps of Engineers workers, including one individual with the surname Gay, have also been marked for possible deletion. Also read: Pentagon releases annual report on China's military developments showing disturbing rise in nukes According to the AP, a total of 26,000 images have been flagged so far, though an official stated that the number could rise to 100,000 once social media posts and other websites are taken into account. The official also noted that it is unclear whether the database of flagged images is final. Much of the material subject to removal under Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive includes content celebrating military contributions from women and minority groups. Hegseth had given the military until Wednesday to erase content related to diversity initiatives, following President Donald Trump’s executive order terminating such programmes across the federal government. Also read: 'Get to table right now': Trump warns of sanctions, tariffs on Russia 'until ceasefire is reached' with Ukraine The Pentagon’s broad approach mirrors a recent incident involving the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In an attempt to eliminate DEI-related references from its manuals, the Trump administration also inadvertently removed unrelated terms, such as references to the “inclusion” of a taxpayer’s identification number on a form. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump-era DEI ban triggers Pentagon to delete historic WWII photo of 'gay' plane: Here’s why

The United States (US) announced on Friday (Jan 31) to institute a new &ldquo;annual media rotation programme&rdquo; for its in-house press corps. The move will remove several major media outlets such as The New York Times and NBC News.
The One America News Network will replace NBC News, Breitbart will be given the space held by National Public Radio, and the New York Post has been offered the New York Times&rsquo; workspace, The Guardian reported. Politico's place will be taken by HuffPost.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-find-and-kill-you-trumps-stern-warning-as-us-conducts-air-strikes-on-is-targets-in-somalia-8682499">'WILL FIND AND KILL YOU': Trump's stern warning as US conducts air strikes on IS targets in Somalia</a>
According to CNN, the changes will come into effect on February 14.&nbsp;
&ldquo;For over a half-century, the Pentagon Press Corps has benefited from working out of individual office spaces that provide coveted and open access to some of the Department&rsquo;s top military and civilian leaders,&rdquo; Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot said in a memo sent to the Pentagon Press Association.
&ldquo;To broaden access to the limited space of the Correspondents&rsquo; Corridor to outlets that have not previously enjoyed the privilege and journalist value of working from physical office space in the Pentagon, beginning February 14, 2025,&rdquo; Ullyot wrote, there will be &ldquo;a new Annual Media Rotation Programme for those dedicated media spaces," it further read.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-hints-at-major-steps-with-putin-to-end-ukraine-conflict-8679710">Trump hints he and Putin could soon take 'decisive steps' to end Ukraine conflict</a>
The Guardian reported that the move is majorly symbolic, as these outlets would not lose access to Pentagon briefings. This is due to Trump's plans to mix the access of traditional news outlets with a cohort of non-traditional news outlets. The US President&nbsp;also plans to give access to podcasters, bloggers, and TikTokers.&nbsp;
The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a briefing that the White House had been flooded with over 10,000 applications for the &ldquo;new media&rdquo; seat in the cramped White House briefing room.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-agents-who-investigated-us-president-donald-trump-under-the-sword-amid-reports-of-mass-firings-or-sweeping-purge-8679596">'Retire, resign or be fired': FBI agents who investigated Trump under the sword amid reports of mass firings</a>
The newly favoured outlet, HuffPost (formerly known as Huffington Post), does not have a Pentagon correspondent. The media outlet told CNN, &ldquo;If the Trump administration and Secretary Hegseth are interested in more hard-hitting coverage of their stewardship of the defense department from HuffPost, we are ready to deliver."&nbsp;
Meanwhile, NBC expressed its disappointment over the decision of barring it from the broadcast booth at the Pentagon, something that the outlet has had "for many decades". 
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-tariffs-could-hit-canada-mexico-and-china-tomorrow-why-even-americans-should-be-worried-8679177">Trump&rsquo;s tariffs to hit Canada, Mexico and China: Why should Americans be&nbsp;worried?</a>
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World | The United States (US) announced on Friday (Jan 31) to institute a new “annual media rotation programme” for its in-house press corps. The move will remove several major media outlets, such as The New York Times and NBC News.

The United States (US) announced on Friday (Jan 31) to institute a new “annual media rotation programme” for its in-house press corps. The move will remove several major media outlets such as The New York Times and NBC News. The One America News Network will replace NBC News, Breitbart will be given the space held by National Public Radio, and the New York Post has been offered the New York Times’ workspace, The Guardian reported. Politico's place will be taken by HuffPost. Also read: 'WILL FIND AND KILL YOU': Trump's stern warning as US conducts air strikes on IS targets in Somalia According to CNN, the changes will come into effect on February 14. “For over a half-century, the Pentagon Press Corps has benefited from working out of individual office spaces that provide coveted and open access to some of the Department’s top military and civilian leaders,” Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot said in a memo sent to the Pentagon Press Association. “To broaden access to the limited space of the Correspondents’ Corridor to outlets that have not previously enjoyed the privilege and journalist value of working from physical office space in the Pentagon, beginning February 14, 2025,” Ullyot wrote, there will be “a new Annual Media Rotation Programme for those dedicated media spaces," it further read. Also read: Trump hints he and Putin could soon take 'decisive steps' to end Ukraine conflict The Guardian reported that the move is majorly symbolic, as these outlets would not lose access to Pentagon briefings. This is due to Trump's plans to mix the access of traditional news outlets with a cohort of non-traditional news outlets. The US President also plans to give access to podcasters, bloggers, and TikTokers. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a briefing that the White House had been flooded with over 10,000 applications for the “new media” seat in the cramped White House briefing room. Also read: 'Retire, resign or be fired': FBI agents who investigated Trump under the sword amid reports of mass firings The newly favoured outlet, HuffPost (formerly known as Huffington Post), does not have a Pentagon correspondent. The media outlet told CNN, “If the Trump administration and Secretary Hegseth are interested in more hard-hitting coverage of their stewardship of the defense department from HuffPost, we are ready to deliver." Meanwhile, NBC expressed its disappointment over the decision of barring it from the broadcast booth at the Pentagon, something that the outlet has had "for many decades". Also read: Trump’s tariffs to hit Canada, Mexico and China: Why should Americans be worried? (With inputs from agencies)

Pentagon removes these major news outlets from the workspace in 'rotation programme'

As China tries to achieve global leadership in defence and military technologies, it is now building a new military command centre near its capital, which is expected to be ten times the size of the Pentagon, Financial Times reported, citing US intelligence officials.&nbsp;
Dubbed 'Beijing Military City', the construction of the facility began in mid-2024.&nbsp;
Recent satellite images show deep holes dug in the 1500-acre land, which is located 30 km southwest of Beijing.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-chinas-deepseek-a-startup-shaking-the-global-tech-look-at-other-key-players-in-chinese-ai-industry-8662290" rel="dofollow">What is China's DeepSeek, a startup shaking the global tech. A look at other players in Chinese AI industry</a>
The new military command may include large buildings and hardened bunkers, which will be designed to protect the top Politburo officials during any conflict, including a nuclear war.&nbsp;
<h2>'10 times bigger than Pentagon'</h2>
"Nearly 10 times bigger than the Pentagon, it's fitting for Xi Jinping's ambitions to surpass the US," an unnamed Chinese researcher told the publication.
The researcher added, "This fortress only serves one purpose, which is to act as a doomsday bunker for China's increasingly sophisticated and capable military."
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/america-first-trump-vows-tariffs-on-china-india-brazil-and-other-nations-that-harm-us-8661806" rel="dofollow"> 'America first': Trump vows tariffs on China, India, Brazil and other nations that 'harm' US</a>
The facility is further expected to replace the existing Western Hills complex and provide immense enhanced protection against the potential US "bunker buster" munitions and nuclear attacks.&nbsp;
The US intelligence officials and former CIA analysts suggested that the construction of the facility points to China's intent to develop advanced nuclear warfighting capabilities, The Telegraph reported.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-secretly-trying-to-gain-control-in-japan-specifically-in-okinawa-close-to-taiwan-8655020" rel="dofollow">China secretly trying to gain control in Japan, specifically in Okinawa, close to Taiwan</a>
Notably, access to the facility is strictly restricted, with signs prohibiting drone flights and photography.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/china-deepseek-deepseek-or-deep-secrecy-netizens-slam-chinas-new-ai-chatbot-for-deflecting-questions-on-dark-chinese-history-lets-talk-about-something-else-8660727" rel="dofollow">DeepSeek or Deep Secrecy? Netizens slam China's new AI chatbot for deflecting questions on dark Chinese history</a>
"Guards at one gate abruptly said that entry was prohibited and refused to talk about the project. One supervisor leaving the construction site refused to comment on the project," according to the report.
Dennis Wilder, the former head of China analysis for the CIA, said, "If confirmed, this new advanced underground command bunker for the military leadership, including President Xi as the chairman of the Central Military Commission, signals Beijing's intent to build not only a world-class conventional force but also an advanced nuclear warfighting capability."
(With inputs from agencies)

World: New military command may include large buildings and hardened bunkers, that will be designed to protect the top Politburo officials during any conflict. 

As China tries to achieve global leadership in defence and military technologies, it is now building a new military command centre near its capital, which is expected to be ten times the size of the Pentagon, Financial Times reported, citing US intelligence officials. Dubbed 'Beijing Military City', the construction of the facility began in mid-2024. Recent satellite images show deep holes dug in the 1500-acre land, which is located 30 km southwest of Beijing. Also read: What is China's DeepSeek, a startup shaking the global tech. A look at other players in Chinese AI industry The new military command may include large buildings and hardened bunkers, which will be designed to protect the top Politburo officials during any conflict, including a nuclear war. '10 times bigger than Pentagon' "Nearly 10 times bigger than the Pentagon, it's fitting for Xi Jinping's ambitions to surpass the US," an unnamed Chinese researcher told the publication. The researcher added, "This fortress only serves one purpose, which is to act as a doomsday bunker for China's increasingly sophisticated and capable military." Also read: 'America first': Trump vows tariffs on China, India, Brazil and other nations that 'harm' US The facility is further expected to replace the existing Western Hills complex and provide immense enhanced protection against the potential US "bunker buster" munitions and nuclear attacks. The US intelligence officials and former CIA analysts suggested that the construction of the facility points to China's intent to develop advanced nuclear warfighting capabilities, The Telegraph reported. Also read: China secretly trying to gain control in Japan, specifically in Okinawa, close to Taiwan Notably, access to the facility is strictly restricted, with signs prohibiting drone flights and photography. Also read: DeepSeek or Deep Secrecy? Netizens slam China's new AI chatbot for deflecting questions on dark Chinese history "Guards at one gate abruptly said that entry was prohibited and refused to talk about the project. One supervisor leaving the construction site refused to comment on the project," according to the report. Dennis Wilder, the former head of China analysis for the CIA, said, "If confirmed, this new advanced underground command bunker for the military leadership, including President Xi as the chairman of the Central Military Commission, signals Beijing's intent to build not only a world-class conventional force but also an advanced nuclear warfighting capability." (With inputs from agencies)

China building military command centre, 10 times bigger than Pentagon: Report

In a new set of action taken against Chinese AI company which is making headlines for days now, the US Department of Defense has blocked the access to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/deepseek-ai" rel="dofollow">DeepSeek</a>.
This comes after it was discovered that US Congress employees had connected their work computers to the Chinese servers while using the AI service.&nbsp;
In a notice obtained by Axios, the Chief Administrative Officer said that DeepSeek is currently under review and unauthorised for official House use.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-looking-for-ai-winners-tracking-deepseek-success-8670201" rel="dofollow">India looking for AI winners tracking Deepseek success</a>
It further highlighted the risks associated with the Chinese AI bot and cited examples where "threat actors are already exploiting" the chatbot to deliver malicious software and infect devices.
For this, the US Congress immediately implemented security measures to restrict DeepSeek's functionality on all House-issued devices.&nbsp;
The employees at US Congress are now restricted from installing the app on official phones, computers and tablets.&nbsp;
Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinas-deepseek-ai-us-national-security-fears-over-american-user-data-us-ban-tiktok-8669146" rel="dofollow"> China's DeepSeek AI sparks national security fears over American user data: Will US ban it?</a>
However, despite the warnings, several staffers reportedly used the service for at least two days.&nbsp;
The official reason used by the US Congress was "operation reasons", however, the move came after concerns were raised about the potential security risks of using the Chinese AI app.&nbsp;
According to a Bloomberg report, the personnel began downloading earlier versions of DeepSeek's code to their workstations in the autumn of 2024, without realising that it is connected to Chinese servers.&nbsp;
According to the privacy policy of DeepSeek, the user data is stored in China and governed by Chinese law, which has been raising issues within the US Congress.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-claims-chinese-rival-deepseek-trained-ai-chatbot-using-chatgpt-microsoft-investigates-8668642" rel="dofollow">OpenAI claims Chinese rival DeepSeek trained AI chatbot using ChatGPT; Microsoft investigates</a>
<h2>Navy banned use of DeepSeek</h2>
The US Navy on Tuesday issued a ban on the usage of DeepSeek. They issued a warning email to "shipmates" saying DeepSeek&rsquo;s AI was not to be used &ldquo;in any capacity&rdquo; due to &ldquo;potential security and ethical concerns associated with the model&rsquo;s origin and usage.&rdquo;
A spokesperson for the US Navy confirmed the authenticity of the email and said it was in reference to the Department of the Navy&rsquo;s Chief Information Officer&rsquo;s generative AI policy.
(With inputs from agencies)
&nbsp;

World: This comes after it was discovered that US Department of Defence employees had connected their work computers to the Chinese servers while using the AI service. 

In a new set of action taken against Chinese AI company which is making headlines for days now, the US Department of Defense has blocked the access to DeepSeek. This comes after it was discovered that US Congress employees had connected their work computers to the Chinese servers while using the AI service. In a notice obtained by Axios, the Chief Administrative Officer said that DeepSeek is currently under review and unauthorised for official House use. Also read: India looking for AI winners tracking Deepseek success It further highlighted the risks associated with the Chinese AI bot and cited examples where "threat actors are already exploiting" the chatbot to deliver malicious software and infect devices. For this, the US Congress immediately implemented security measures to restrict DeepSeek's functionality on all House-issued devices. The employees at US Congress are now restricted from installing the app on official phones, computers and tablets. Also read: China's DeepSeek AI sparks national security fears over American user data: Will US ban it? However, despite the warnings, several staffers reportedly used the service for at least two days. The official reason used by the US Congress was "operation reasons", however, the move came after concerns were raised about the potential security risks of using the Chinese AI app. According to a Bloomberg report, the personnel began downloading earlier versions of DeepSeek's code to their workstations in the autumn of 2024, without realising that it is connected to Chinese servers. According to the privacy policy of DeepSeek, the user data is stored in China and governed by Chinese law, which has been raising issues within the US Congress. Also read: OpenAI claims Chinese rival DeepSeek trained AI chatbot using ChatGPT; Microsoft investigates Navy banned use of DeepSeek The US Navy on Tuesday issued a ban on the usage of DeepSeek. They issued a warning email to "shipmates" saying DeepSeek’s AI was not to be used “in any capacity” due to “potential security and ethical concerns associated with the model’s origin and usage.” A spokesperson for the US Navy confirmed the authenticity of the email and said it was in reference to the Department of the Navy’s Chief Information Officer’s generative AI policy. (With inputs from agencies)

US Congress bans employees from using DeepSeek over potential security risks

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order for America to get an ‘Iron Dome’ air defence system. The short-range Iron Dome air defense system was built by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to intercept rockets fired by Hamas toward Israel.

Donald Trump orders Pentagon to move forward on missile defence

US President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/donald-trump" rel="dofollow">Donald Trump</a> is expected to sign multiple executive orders on Monday (Jan 27) to reshape the military.
Among military-related orders, the first one is to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the Department of Defense. 
Another order would ban transgender service members from serving in the US armed forces, CNN reported. A third will reinstate service members dismissed for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations. In his inauguration speech, Trump called the dismissals "unjust expulsions."
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-ai-sensation-deepseek-dethrones-chatgpt-but-limits-users-amid-malicious-cyberattacks-8659469" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Chinese AI sensation DeepSeek dethrones ChatGPT but limits users amid 'malicious' cyberattacks</a>
Approximately 8,000 military personnel were discharged over vaccine refusals during the pandemic, but only 43 were reinstated before Trump returned to the White House.
Shortly after he arrived at the Pentagon on Monday, Hegseth told reporters that there were &ldquo;more executive orders coming.&rdquo;
&ldquo;Today, there are more executive orders coming, &hellip; on removing DEI inside the Pentagon, reinstating troops who were pushed out because of Covid mandates, iron dome for America &mdash; this is happening quickly, and as the secretary of defence, it&rsquo;s an honour to salute smartly as I did as a junior officer and now as the secretary of defence to ensure these orders are complied with rapidly and quickly,&rdquo; Hegseth said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/selena-gomez-breaks-down-in-tears-over-trumps-immigration-crackdown-deletes-video-later-8659468" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'I&rsquo;m so sorry' Selena Gomez breaks down in tears over Trump's immigration crackdown, deletes video later</a>
<h2>Removal of DEI initiatives from the US military</h2>
The removal of DEI initiatives was a major campaign promise that Trump began implementing immediately after assuming office last week. DEI programmes aim to encourage participation from individuals of diverse backgrounds in workplaces.
Shortly after taking office, Trump directed all federal employees involved in DEI initiatives to be placed on paid administrative leave. According to the White House, these staff members had to be on leave by 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT) the next day, after which the offices and programmes were closed.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/world/eu-agrees-roadmap-to-ease-syria-sanctions-after-assads-ouster-8659467" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">EU agrees to roadmap for easing Syria sanctions after Assad's ouster</a>
Trump labelled DEI initiatives as "dangerous, demeaning and immoral" in an official order. A White House source confirmed to CBS that the executive orders will ban practices that promote discriminatory race- or sex-based preferences in the military, Department of Defense, or the Department of Homeland Security.
The remaining DEI-related structures within these departments will also be dismantled. Additionally, military service academies, such as West Point and the US Air Force Academy, will undergo a review of their curricula for content perceived as "radical" DEI or gender ideologies.
(With inputs from agencies)

World: Shortly after he arrived at the Pentagon on Monday, US President Trump's Defence pick, Pete Hegseth, told reporters that there were “more executive orders coming.”

US President Donald Trump is expected to sign multiple executive orders on Monday (Jan 27) to reshape the military. Among military-related orders, the first one is to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from the Department of Defense. Another order would ban transgender service members from serving in the US armed forces, CNN reported. A third will reinstate service members dismissed for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations. In his inauguration speech, Trump called the dismissals "unjust expulsions." Also read: Chinese AI sensation DeepSeek dethrones ChatGPT but limits users amid 'malicious' cyberattacks Approximately 8,000 military personnel were discharged over vaccine refusals during the pandemic, but only 43 were reinstated before Trump returned to the White House. Shortly after he arrived at the Pentagon on Monday, Hegseth told reporters that there were “more executive orders coming.” “Today, there are more executive orders coming, … on removing DEI inside the Pentagon, reinstating troops who were pushed out because of Covid mandates, iron dome for America — this is happening quickly, and as the secretary of defence, it’s an honour to salute smartly as I did as a junior officer and now as the secretary of defence to ensure these orders are complied with rapidly and quickly,” Hegseth said. Also read: 'I’m so sorry' Selena Gomez breaks down in tears over Trump's immigration crackdown, deletes video later Removal of DEI initiatives from the US military The removal of DEI initiatives was a major campaign promise that Trump began implementing immediately after assuming office last week. DEI programmes aim to encourage participation from individuals of diverse backgrounds in workplaces. Shortly after taking office, Trump directed all federal employees involved in DEI initiatives to be placed on paid administrative leave. According to the White House, these staff members had to be on leave by 17:00 EST (22:00 GMT) the next day, after which the offices and programmes were closed. Also read: EU agrees to roadmap for easing Syria sanctions after Assad's ouster Trump labelled DEI initiatives as "dangerous, demeaning and immoral" in an official order. A White House source confirmed to CBS that the executive orders will ban practices that promote discriminatory race- or sex-based preferences in the military, Department of Defense, or the Department of Homeland Security. The remaining DEI-related structures within these departments will also be dismantled. Additionally, military service academies, such as West Point and the US Air Force Academy, will undergo a review of their curricula for content perceived as "radical" DEI or gender ideologies. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump to shake up US military with executive orders targeting transgender troops, scrapping DEI initiatives

Pentagon’s 2024 military report on China highlights how China is surging ahead in naval power, leaving U.S. Grappling with an industrial and strategic disadvantage.

China’s Shipbuilding Dwarfs America’s Naval Industry

In the United States, notably on the East Coast, a series of reported drone sightings has sparked widespread concerns and speculations. The situation is still ongoing, but the Pentagon has reassured the public that there is no safety risk or national security threat. The sightings, which began in mid-November over New Jersey, have since been reported in New York, Connecticut, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and even Maryland, sparking fears of a potential national security threat. Watch in for more details!

USA News: Mystery Drones Not Connected To Any Known Threats, Says Pentagon

A spate of mysterious drone sightings in the US is not the work of an Iranian "mothership" lurking off the east coast, the Pentagon says. Watch in for more details!

Pentagon Says, Mystery New Jersey Drones Not From Iranian 'Mothership'

United States President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering replacing his defence secretary pick, Pete Hegseth. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal Trump is likely to replace Hegseth with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ahead of his second term in the White House.&nbsp;

Hegseth, a former Fox News host and a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, has been in hot water since Trump nominated him. Currently, he is facing intense scrutiny for his personal life, including alleged mistreatment of women.&nbsp;

DeSantis ran against Trump in the Republican primary. Before he dropped out, he was called Trump 2.0 with people thinking he could take the President-elect's populist agenda ahead.&nbsp;

He was elected as Florida governor in 2018.&nbsp;

Neither DeSantis nor Trump's team replied to comment on the reports of him replacing Hegseth, CBS reported.&nbsp;

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-fbi-director-pick-kash-patel-targetted-by-iranian-hacking-attack-781413">Trump's FBI director pick Kash Patel targetted by Iranian hacking attack</a>

The news came after Hegseth met with members of Congress this week to discuss his nomination, which requires Senate approval. His nomination came in mid-November.&nbsp;

<h2>What did Hegseth's mother say?</h2>

On November 30, the New York Times reported that Hegseth's mother had been aware of his actions for a very long time. In 2018, she wrote an email questioning his character.

Also read&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tucker-carlson-claims-biden-administration-blocking-his-attempts-to-interview-zelensky-781398">Tucker Carlson claims Biden administration blocking his attempts to interview Zelensky</a>

Saying he routinely mistreated women, Penelope Hegseth wrote in her email, "On behalf of all the women (and I know it’s many) you have abused in some way, I say … get some help and take an honest look at yourself," adding that she still loves her son.&nbsp;

<h2>Hegseth's controversial remarks&nbsp;</h2>

Hegseth recently shared various controversial remarks such as firing "woke generals" in the military and also spoke against the combat role of women in the military.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering replacing his defence secretary pick, Pete Hegseth. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal Trump is likely to replace Hegseth with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ahead of his second term in the White House.

United States President-elect Donald Trump is reportedly considering replacing his defence secretary pick, Pete Hegseth. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal Trump is likely to replace Hegseth with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ahead of his second term in the White House. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and a veteran of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, has been in hot water since Trump nominated him. Currently, he is facing intense scrutiny for his personal life, including alleged mistreatment of women. DeSantis ran against Trump in the Republican primary. Before he dropped out, he was called Trump 2.0 with people thinking he could take the President-elect's populist agenda ahead. He was elected as Florida governor in 2018. Neither DeSantis nor Trump's team replied to comment on the reports of him replacing Hegseth, CBS reported. Also read | Trump's FBI director pick Kash Patel targetted by Iranian hacking attack The news came after Hegseth met with members of Congress this week to discuss his nomination, which requires Senate approval. His nomination came in mid-November. What did Hegseth's mother say? On November 30, the New York Times reported that Hegseth's mother had been aware of his actions for a very long time. In 2018, she wrote an email questioning his character. Also read | Tucker Carlson claims Biden administration blocking his attempts to interview Zelensky Saying he routinely mistreated women, Penelope Hegseth wrote in her email, "On behalf of all the women (and I know it’s many) you have abused in some way, I say … get some help and take an honest look at yourself," adding that she still loves her son. Hegseth's controversial remarks Hegseth recently shared various controversial remarks such as firing "woke generals" in the military and also spoke against the combat role of women in the military. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump may replace Pete Hegseth with Ron DeSantis to lead Pentagon: Report

The US Department of Defense has published its annual report on unidentified flying objects. It says there has been an increase in cases of mistaken reports involving SpaceX's Starlink satellites. Watch this report for more details!

Pentagon's Annual UFO Report Finds 21 Cases Of Sightings Need More Analysis

Former President Donald Trump's team is reportedly preparing a list of Pentagon officers to be dismissed, should he return to office. The move is seen as part of his broader strategy to reshape the military leadership, with a focus on removing officials he deems disloyal or ineffective. The plan has raised concerns about potential political interference in military affairs.

Trump's Team Drawing Up List Of Pentagon Officers To Fire

Members of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team are drawing up a list of military officers to be fired, potentially to include the Joint Chiefs of Staff, two sources said, in what would be an unprecedented shakeup at the Pentagon.

The planning for the firings is at an early stage after Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory and could change as Trump’s administration takes shape, said the sources, who are familiar with the Trump transition and requested anonymity to speak candidly about the plans.

One of the sources questioned the feasibility of a mass firing at the Pentagon.

It was also unclear if Trump himself would endorse the plan, although in the past he has railed extensively against defence leaders who have criticised him.&nbsp;

The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to request for comment.

The second source said the incoming administration would likely focus on U.S. military officers seen as connected to Mark Milley, Trump’s former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Milley was quoted in the book “War” by Bob Woodward, which was published last month, calling Trump “fascist to the core” and Trump’s allies have targeted him for perceived disloyalty to the former president.

“Every single person that was elevated and appointed by Milley will be gone,” the second source said.

“There’s a very detailed list of everybody that was affiliated with Milley. And they will all be gone.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiXycr5kNyJAxWvka8BHW07O3cQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-officials-brace-for-illegal-orders-from-donald-trump-reports-774744" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-officials-brace-for-illegal-orders-from-donald-trump-reports-774744&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiXycr5kNyJAxWvka8BHW07O3cQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE">Pentagon officials brace for `illegal` orders from Donald Trump: Report</a>

The Joint Chiefs of Staff include the highest ranking officers in the U.S. military and comprise the heads of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard and Space Force.

The disclosure of plans to fire senior leaders of the U.S. armed forces comes a day after Trump picked Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator and veteran who has signalled a willingness to clean house at the Pentagon, as his defence secretary.

“The next president of the United States needs to radically overhaul Pentagon senior leadership to make us ready to defend our nation and defeat our enemies. Lots of people need to be fired,” Hegseth said in his 2024 book “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.”

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiXycr5kNyJAxWvka8BHW07O3cQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-and-pentagon-puzzled-after-swarm-of-mystery-drones-hover-over-us-military-base-for-17-days-767093" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/white-house-and-pentagon-puzzled-after-swarm-of-mystery-drones-hover-over-us-military-base-for-17-days-767093&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiXycr5kNyJAxWvka8BHW07O3cQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE">White House and Pentagon puzzled after swarm of mystery drones hover over US military base for 17 days</a>

It is unclear if Hegseth’s lack of management experience could complicate his Senate confirmation and if a more traditional alternative for the position would carry out such sweeping dismissals.

Hegseth has also taken aim at Milley’s successor, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, asking whether he would have gotten the job if he were not Black.

“Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt - which on its face seems unfair to CQ. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter,” he wrote.

The first source familiar with the transition planning said Brown would be among the many officers to leave.

“The chiefs of the Joint Chiefs and all the vice chiefs will be fired immediately,” the source said, before noting that this was still only early planning.

Some current and former U.S. officials have played down the possibility of such a major shakeup, saying it would be unnecessary and disruptive at a time of global turmoil with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The first source said that it would be difficult bureaucratically to fire and replace a large swath of senior U.S. military officials, suggesting the planning could be bluster and posturing by Trump allies.

But the second source suggested the Trump camp believed the Joint Chiefs of Staff needed to shrink due to perceived bureaucratic overreach.

Such cuts could be endured in an organization the scale of the U.S. military, the source said.

“These people are not irreplaceable. They are very replaceable. And then the other thing too is there is no shortage of people that will step up,” the source said.

“In World War Two, we were very rapidly appointing people in their 30s or people competent to be generals. And you know what? We won the war.”

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Members of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team are drawing up a list of military officers to be fired, potentially to include the Joint Chiefs of Staff, two sources said, in what would be an unprecedented shakeup at the Pentagon.

Members of President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team are drawing up a list of military officers to be fired, potentially to include the Joint Chiefs of Staff, two sources said, in what would be an unprecedented shakeup at the Pentagon. The planning for the firings is at an early stage after Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory and could change as Trump’s administration takes shape, said the sources, who are familiar with the Trump transition and requested anonymity to speak candidly about the plans. One of the sources questioned the feasibility of a mass firing at the Pentagon. It was also unclear if Trump himself would endorse the plan, although in the past he has railed extensively against defence leaders who have criticised him. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to request for comment. The second source said the incoming administration would likely focus on U.S. military officers seen as connected to Mark Milley, Trump’s former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley was quoted in the book “War” by Bob Woodward, which was published last month, calling Trump “fascist to the core” and Trump’s allies have targeted him for perceived disloyalty to the former president. “Every single person that was elevated and appointed by Milley will be gone,” the second source said. “There’s a very detailed list of everybody that was affiliated with Milley. And they will all be gone.” Also read: Pentagon officials brace for `illegal` orders from Donald Trump: Report The Joint Chiefs of Staff include the highest ranking officers in the U.S. military and comprise the heads of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, National Guard and Space Force. The disclosure of plans to fire senior leaders of the U.S. armed forces comes a day after Trump picked Pete Hegseth, a Fox News commentator and veteran who has signalled a willingness to clean house at the Pentagon, as his defence secretary. “The next president of the United States needs to radically overhaul Pentagon senior leadership to make us ready to defend our nation and defeat our enemies. Lots of people need to be fired,” Hegseth said in his 2024 book “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free.” Also read: White House and Pentagon puzzled after swarm of mystery drones hover over US military base for 17 days It is unclear if Hegseth’s lack of management experience could complicate his Senate confirmation and if a more traditional alternative for the position would carry out such sweeping dismissals. Hegseth has also taken aim at Milley’s successor, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, asking whether he would have gotten the job if he were not Black. “Was it because of his skin color? Or his skill? We’ll never know, but always doubt - which on its face seems unfair to CQ. But since he has made the race card one of his biggest calling cards, it doesn’t really much matter,” he wrote. The first source familiar with the transition planning said Brown would be among the many officers to leave. “The chiefs of the Joint Chiefs and all the vice chiefs will be fired immediately,” the source said, before noting that this was still only early planning. Some current and former U.S. officials have played down the possibility of such a major shakeup, saying it would be unnecessary and disruptive at a time of global turmoil with wars raging in Ukraine and the Middle East. The first source said that it would be difficult bureaucratically to fire and replace a large swath of senior U.S. military officials, suggesting the planning could be bluster and posturing by Trump allies. But the second source suggested the Trump camp believed the Joint Chiefs of Staff needed to shrink due to perceived bureaucratic overreach. Such cuts could be endured in an organization the scale of the U.S. military, the source said. “These people are not irreplaceable. They are very replaceable. And then the other thing too is there is no shortage of people that will step up,” the source said. “In World War Two, we were very rapidly appointing people in their 30s or people competent to be generals. And you know what? We won the war.” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Trump’s team planning big Pentagon shakeup, drawing up list of officers to fire

The Pentagon rejects claims by the Houthi rebels that they targeted the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, amid escalating tensions in the Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

Israel-Hezbollah War: Pentagon Denies Houthis Claim Of Targeting Carrier Lincoln

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