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Hegseth Orders Additional Guidance To Reenlist Troops Booted Over Biden’s ‘Unlawful’ Covid Shot Mandate

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum on Wednesday ordering additional guidance be provided to Pentagon officials to fast-track the reenlistment of troops forced out due to the service’s Biden-era Covid shot mandate.

“We’re doing everything we can, as quickly as we can, to reinstate those who were affected by that policy,” Hegseth said in a video message announcing the new directives.

The Wednesday memo directs the Pentagon’s under secretary for personnel and readiness “to provide additional guidance to the Military Department Review Boards concerning the review of requests from Service members and former Service members adversely impacted by the COVID-19 vaccine mandate.”

The goal of these new instructions, according to the directive, is to “facilitate, as appropriate, the removal of adverse actions based solely on refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine (or requesting a medical or religious/administrative accommodation), discharge upgrades for individuals involuntarily separated solely for refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine whose service was characterized as less than fully honorable, and appropriate remedies for Service members who suffered a wide variety of other career setbacks resulting from their principled refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The “unfair, overbroad, and unnecessary” Covid jab mandate was announced by Biden Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in August 2021. While it was ultimately repealed following an act of Congress in early 2023, the damage was already done. More than 8,700 service members were effectively forced out of the military after forgoing the experimental shot. (Read more from “Hegseth Orders Additional Guidance To Reenlist Troops Booted Over Biden’s ‘Unlawful’ Covid Shot Mandate” HERE)

Pete Hegseth’s Chief of Staff Joe Kasper Out at Pentagon as ‘Turf War’ Results in Another Shakeup: Report

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lost another member of his team Thursday as former chief of staff Joe Kasper is reportedly leaving the Pentagon amid a “turf war” that has resulted in several high-level departures and threats of subjecting staff to polygraph tests.

Kasper, who left his role as chief of staff last week, was expected to stay on in a different capacity at the Pentagon but has decided to move to the private sector amid the turmoil, according to Politico.

His exit comes a month after he fired off a memo announcing an investigation into “unauthorized disclosures of sensitive and classified information across the Department of Defense.”

Pentagon senior adviser Dan Caldwell, former deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, former chief of staff to the deputy secretary of defense, were each escorted out of the building in a series of firings last week in the aftermath of the leak probe.

The investigation was launched after Hegseth reportedly became enraged that word of Department of Government Efficiency chief Elon Musk’s March visit to the Pentagon was leaked to the New York Times.

“I’ll hook you up to a f–king polygraph!” Hegseth shouted at Adm. Christopher Grady, the then-acting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after learning of the leak, sources told the Wall Street Journal Thursday. (Read more from “Pete Hegseth’s Chief of Staff Joe Kasper Out at Pentagon as ‘Turf War’ Results in Another Shakeup: Report” HERE)

Defense SEC. Hegseth Shared War Plans in Second Signal Chat: Report

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sent details of the March attack on the Houthis in Yemen in a second group chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer — the latest scandal out of the Pentagon in a chaotic few weeks, according to a report.

Hegseth reportedly shared the sensitive details about the strikes to his spouse before the US carried out the March 15 attack, the New York Times reported Sunday, citing four sources with knowledge of the chat.

The information he shared was nearly identical to what was sent in another chat that mistakenly included a lefty journalist, according to the sources.

Last month, Hegseth allegedly texted the same information regarding the attack in a Signal group chat that included Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic magazine, among numerous Trump administration senior national security officials.

The revelation of a second sensitive group chat in just a few weeks after news of the first one broke adds to the apparent dysfunction inside the defense department, in which multiple top Hegseth advisors have been shown the door and a probe into alleged leaks is underway. (Read more from “Defense SEC. Hegseth Shared War Plans in Second Signal Chat: Report” HERE)

Top Hegseth Adviser Dan Caldwell ‘Escorted’ Out of Pentagon, Placed on Leave Amid Leak Probe

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Dan Caldwell, a key adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was “escorted” out of the Pentagon Tuesday after being implicated during a leak investigation.

Caldwell was put on administrative leave for “an unauthorized disclosure,” a US official told Reuters, adding that “the investigation remains ongoing.”

A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed to The Post that Caldwell had been removed from his post.

It’s unclear what material Caldwell, a senior adviser in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, is accused of leaking and to whom.

Caldwell’s removal comes less than a month after Hegseth’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, ordered the director for defense intelligence (counterintelligence, law enforcement, and security) to assist in a probe into “unauthorized disclosures of sensitive and classified information across the Department of Defense.”

“Recent unauthorized disclosures of national security information involving sensitive communications with principals within the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) demand immediate and thorough investigation,” Kasper wrote in the March 21 memo. (Read more from “Top Hegseth Adviser Dan Caldwell ‘Escorted’ Out of Pentagon, Placed on Leave Amid Leak Probe” HERE)

Trump Authorizes Military Mission Along Southern Border To Repel Migrant ‘Invasions’

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President Donald Trump signed a memorandum authorizing a “military mission for sealing the southern border of the United States and repelling invasions,” giving the U.S. military the ability to occupy public land along the border in order to secure it.

The directive, released late Friday, allows the military to use federal lands for military activities, including constructing border barriers and using “detection and monitoring equipment” to deter would-be migrant invaders.

“Our southern border is under attack from a variety of threats. The complexity of the current situation requires that our military take a more direct role in securing our southern border than in the recent past,” Trump’s memorandum states. Friday’s memo cited an executive order Trump signed on day one of his second term, in which he “assigned the Armed Forces of the United States the military missions of repelling the invasion and sealing the United States southern border from unlawful entry to maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States.”

The memorandum directs the Defense, Interior, Agriculture, and Homeland Security secretaries to grant the Defense Department jurisdiction over federal lands along the southern border so they can be used for military activity. The Department of Defense will have the authority to designate “National Defense Areas” on such land, the memo directs. (Read more from “Trump Authorizes Military Mission Along Southern Border To Repel Migrant ‘Invasions’” HERE)

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Pete Hegseth Says Panama Accepted Agreement on Warship Canal Passage After China Accused the U.S. of ‘Blackmail’

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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that the nation of Panama agreed to allow warship passage through the canal after Chinese officials accused the U.S. of trying to use blackmail to further its interests.

Hegseth said that the two nations had signed a memorandum of understanding to allow U.S. warships to pass through the canal without paying a toll. The agreement for security cooperation also includes auxiliary vessels.

When asked about the accusation, Hegseth fired back at China.

“I don’t know anything about blackmail,” he responded, “but I do know about strength, peace through strength, and deterrence.”

On Wednesday a Chinese official had more fiery rhetoric against the U.S. as a trade war escalated between President Donald Trump and the communist-governed nation.

“Everyone knows who wants to control the Panama Canal,” said ministry spokesperson Lin Jian to reporters. “The U.S. side should take a look in the mirror to see who really threatens the sovereignty, security, and development of other countries.” (Read more from “Pete Hegseth Says Panama Accepted Agreement on Warship Canal Passage After China Accused the U.S. of ‘Blackmail’” HERE)

Pete Hegseth Heads to Panama as Trump Demands U.S. Reclaim Control of Canal

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In a bold move signaling America’s renewed strength on the global stage, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is set to visit Panama as President Donald Trump declares the U.S. is “reclaiming” control over the Panama Canal. With the Trump administration focused on asserting American influence and safeguarding vital national interests, this trip marks a significant step in strengthening ties with Panama and reinforcing the strategic importance of the canal to U.S. trade and security. As the president takes decisive action on the world stage, Hegseth’s visit underscores a broader push to reclaim America’s leadership role in global affairs.

Hegseth is traveling to Panama City, Panama, next week to participate in the 2025 Central American Security Conference, where he will meet with the country’s president, Jose Raul Mulino, and attend a meeting of regional chiefs of defense. He will also travel to Eglin AFB to visit service members and command leadership at the 7th Special Forces Group. The trip is part of Trump’s efforts to regain control of the key strategic and military resources.

Chief spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth will participate in discussions that “drive ongoing efforts to strengthen the U.S.’s partnerships with Panama and other Central American nations toward our shared vision for a peaceful and secure Western Hemisphere.”

During his March address to Congress, Trump said he would reclaim the Panama Canal as part of his administration’s plans to enhance the United States’s national security, adding that they’ve “already started doing it.”

In December, Trump voiced his frustration over the fees Panama imposes on the U.S. for using the Panama Canal. In a Truth Social post, the president said, “The fees Panama charges are outrageous, especially considering the immense generosity the U.S. has shown to Panama. This blatant ‘rip-off’ of our country will come to an end immediately.” (Read more from “Pete Hegseth Heads to Panama as Trump Demands U.S. Reclaim Control of Canal” HERE)

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Hegseth Signs Memo Ordering Return To ‘Sex-Neutral Standards’ In The Military

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By The Federalist. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo on Sunday ordering the return of “sex-neutral standards” for military combat roles.

“We need to have the same standards, male or female, in our combat roles to ensure our men and women who are under our leaders or in those formations, have the best possible leaders and the highest possible standards that are not based at all on your sex,” Hegseth said.

According to a copy of the directive obtained by The Federalist, Hegseth has instructed the secretaries of America’s military departments to “develop comprehensive plans to distinguish combat arms occupations from non-combat arms occupations.” These plans, as specified by the defense secretary, must also “identify which positions require heightened entry-level and sustained physical fitness” for “certain combat arms roles.”

“These roles, which are critical to our military’s mission success, demand exceptional physical capabilities, and the standards for them must reflect that rigor,” Hegseth wrote.

The plans to be developed by the military departments must address “Ground Combat Operations,” “Special Operations Forces (SOF) Occupations,” and “Specialized Occupations,” according to the directive. (Read more from “Hegseth Signs Memo Ordering Return To ‘Sex-Neutral Standards’ In The Military” HERE)

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Hegseth Orders Same Physical Requirements for Men, Women in Combat Roles, Says U.S. ‘Allowed Standards to Slip’

By New York Post. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo Monday ordering men and women to meet the same physical fitness requirements if they want to serve in combat roles, saying the Pentagon had “allowed standards to slip.”

“Different standards for men and women in combat arms, MOS and jobs, that’s not acceptable,” Hegseth said in a video posted to X, using the abbreviation for “military occupational specialty,” or job type.

“We have to have the same standard — male or female — in our combat roles to ensure our men and women who are under our leaders, or in those formations, have the best possible leaders and the highest possible standards that are not based at all on your sex.”

The memo, which orders the military branches to “develop comprehensive plans to distinguish combat arms occupations from non-combat arms occupations,” specifies in hand-underlined text that the soon-to-be-developed standards must not “result in any existing service member being held to a lower standard.”

“All entry-level and sustained physical fitness requirements within combat arms positions must be sex-neutral, based solely on the operational demands of the occupation and the readiness needed to confront any adversary,” Hegseth wrote. (Read more from “Hegseth Orders Same Physical Requirements for Men, Women in Combat Roles, Says U.S. ‘Allowed Standards to Slip’” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr

White House Blasts the Atlantic After Release of More ‘Attack Plans’ Messages: ‘Oversold’

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The White House on Wednesday accused The Atlantic of sensationalizing the content of additional “attack plans” messages that the outlet released after administration officials denied sharing classified information in a Signal group chat that its reporter was inadvertently added to.

The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was mistakenly added to a Signal group chat of top Trump military and intelligence officials to monitor airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. The Atlantic’s first article on the chat, published Monday, left out messages that Goldberg said contained sensitive “attack plans” that could damage U.S. national security if released.

The outlet published those redacted messages on Wednesday after Trump officials denied on Tuesday that any classified information was shared in the group chat. “There was no classified information as I understand it,” President Donald Trump said on Tuesday.

The messages released by Goldberg were sent by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at 11:44 a.m. ET on the morning of March 15, the day of the strike on the Houthis. The messages, sent to the group roughly two hours before the strike was delivered, said:

TEAM UPDATE:

TIME NOW (1144et): Weather is FAVORABLE. Just CONFIRMED w/CENTCOM we are a GO for mission launch.

1215et: F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package)

1345: ‘Trigger Based’ F-18 1st Strike Window Starts (Target Terrorist is @ his Known Location so SHOULD BE ON TIME – also, Strike Drones Launch (MQ-9s)”

1410: More F-18s LAUNCH (2nd strike package)

1415: Strike Drones on Target (THIS IS WHEN THE FIRST BOMBS WILL DEFINITELY DROP, pending earlier ‘Trigger Based’ targets)

1536 F-18 2nd Strike Starts – also, first sea-based Tomahawks launched.

MORE TO FOLLOW (per timeline)

We are currently clean on OPSEC.

Godspeed to our Warriors.

(Read more from “White House Blasts the Atlantic After Release of More ‘Attack Plans’ Messages: ‘Oversold’” HERE)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Orders Force-Wide Review of Existing Fitness and Grooming Standards

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday ordered a department-wide review of existing standards for each military branch on physical fitness, body composition, and grooming — including on beards, Breitbart News has exclusively learned.

“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,” Hegseth said in a March 12, 2025, memorandum ordering the review.

“Our adversaries are not growing weaker, and our tasks are not growing less challenging. 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,” he added.

Pentagon Press Secretary John Ullyot added in a statement to Breitbart News:

Unfortunately, the U.S. military’s high standards on body composition and other metrics eroded in recent years, particularly during the tenure of former Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley, who set a bad example from the top through his own personal corpulence. Secretary Hegseth is committed to restoring high standards, and this review is the first step in doing so.

(Read more from “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Orders Force-Wide Review of Existing Fitness and Grooming Standards” HERE)

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr