US Defense Secretary Hegseth vows to purge 'fat, bearded, weird' troops, seeks 'cowboy patriots'

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced a new Bureau for Religious Affairs and a campaign to reshape the US Army's culture, explicitly targeting 'fat, transsexuals, and bearded ones' in favor of 'cowboy patriots'. This rhetoric signals a significant shift in military personnel policy amid budget pressures and ongoing conflict with Iran. The initiative is likely to face legal and morale challenges, and its impact on force readiness is uncertain.