Here is the makeup of the US military and how it's changed over time

WASHINGTON —

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senior military leaders Tuesday that the era of a “politically correct” armed forces is over, calling for a return to standards from the 1990s.

Speaking at Quantico, Virginia, in an unusual gathering of the military’s top leaders, Hegseth suggested changes in the makeup and priorities of the armed forces have caused them to weaken over time.

“What were the military standards in 1990? And if they have changed… Tell me why? Was it a necessary change based on the evolving landscape of combat, or was the change due to a softening, weakening or gender-based pursuit of other priorities?” he asked.

The Hearst Television National Investigative Unit and Get the Facts Data Team reviewed and analyzed data from several government sources to a