US Military beard ban sparks outrage among Sikhs, religious minorities

Babushahi Bureau

Washington DC (US), October 4, 2025: The United States military is facing widespread criticism after Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a new grooming policy that effectively bans most service members from keeping beards, limiting exemptions only to select special forces.

Unveiled during a speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Hegseth stated bluntly: “If you want a beard, join special forces. If not, shave. We don’t have a military full of Nordic pagans.” He further condemned what he called “rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles,” referring to medical and religious waivers that allowed beards for health or faith reasons.

The new policy rolls back years of progress toward religio

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