Hegseth touts the end of the ‘woke’ and ‘weak department’ in address

Published September 30, 2026 6:29pm ET



War Secretary Pete Hegseth said his department has moved away from “woke” ideologies during his “State of the Force” address Wednesday, directing comments toward “fake news” media.

The Trump administration has sought to put an end to “woke ideologies” in President Donald Trump’s second term. Several of those actions have included restructuring the armed forces and revoking diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Hegseth claimed success in the Department of War’s efforts during his appearance at the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia.

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