Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a review of the military’s grooming standards—and he wants his generals to look very closely at beards. In a memo to senior military leaders, Hegseth asked for a review of all fitness,

The review will include standards for physical fitness, body composition and grooming, including beards, which are currently not allowed in the military, apart from some religious exemptions, according to a memo from Hegseth dated Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed in January to review "in a gender-neutral way" readiness standards for troops.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered senior Pentagon leadership to review how and why grooming standards, including beards, have changed since 2015.