US defence chief rejects “woke” policies: "No more dudes in dresses"

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who has repeatedly insisted that the United States military must abandon what he calls “woke” distractions, used a series of appearances in North Texas on January 12 to outline a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s defence-technology system. 

Speaking inside Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket factory, Hegseth concluded the Texas segment of what the Department of Defence has branded the Arsenal of Freedom tour, an initiative the Pentagon says is aimed at “fueling a revival” of the U.S. defence industry.

“The challenge is that our legacy approach to technological development assumes that technology moves in a linear way and that only existing companies can provide it,” Hegseth said. “That ends today.”

Earlier in the day, at Lockheed Martin Corp.’s Fort Worth plant, Hegseth addressed workers from in front of an F-35 fighter jet produced at the facility. There, he reiterated his argument that the U.S. military must be tougher and better prepared, while also equipped with the most advanced technology available.

In its statement announcing the changes, the Pentagon described the reorganisation as a “transformative realignment” of its innovation ecosystem.

“This overhaul replaces a historically fragmented system with a more unified and fast-paced innovation enterprise built to deliver technology to the warfighter with greater urgency,” the statement said. “Commercial innovation demands clarity and speed, not long delays or uncertainty.”

Hegseth paired his push for modernisation with his familiar criticism of what he has labelled ideological intrusions into the armed forces. “No more DEI. No more dudes in dresses,” he told the Fort Worth audience, drawing cheers and applause.

Yet despite those political lines, the central theme of Hegseth’s stops in North Texas was the military’s readiness to purchase from any company capable of producing superior systems. “We ultimately don’t care what name is on the side of a missile or plane,” he said. “We just want the best, and our expectation is that every company competes.”

He stressed that the military cannot afford to be matched evenly with its adversaries.

“We’re going to give the same message to small companies and medium-sized companies,” he said. “The urgency of the moment requires it. The warfighters need it, and they need it yesterday.”

By Tamilla Hasanova