Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a strict new grooming policy that effectively bans most beards in the US military, allowing exceptions only for elite special forces.

The move is drawing sharp criticism from civil rights groups, veterans and advocates for religious freedom.

Why it matters

The new policy could force many service members — especially Sikhs, Muslims, Jews and Black troops with skin conditions — to choose between their military careers and their religious beliefs or health needs.

“If someone is good at their job but has a medical condition or religious belief, it’s absurd to punish them for that,” said Kyle Bibby, former Marine captain and co-founder of the Black Veterans Project, reports axios.

What Hegseth said

During a speech at Quantico, Hegseth declared:

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