July 10, 2026

Hegseth Intensifies Beard Policy Enforcement Following Sailor Violations

During a June visit to the USS Carl Vinson, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth found sailors with beards disregarding his clean-shaven directive.
Hegseth is pushing for faster enforcement of grooming standards, emphasizing the need for consistent adherence across all ranks.
Under the new policy, personnel requiring shaving waivers for more than a year can be dismissed, raising concerns about its impact on Black troops with pseudofolliculitis barbae.