Latest news with #MilitaryEqualOpportunity
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hegseth signs 'No More Walking on Eggshells' policy, demands review of equal opportunity complaint process
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo on Friday calling for a review of Military Equal Opportunity and DoD civilian Equal Employment Opportunity programs. The secretaries of each military department are required under the memo to assess the programs in place within their own departments. In a video posted on X announcing the memo, Hegseth said that while it's "a good thing" that the military has multiple avenues for both service members and civilians to complain about harassment and discrimination, the systems have been "weaponized" and used "in bad faith to retaliate against superiors or peers." Hegseth Faces Latest Battle Defending His Defense Secretary Post At The Pentagon The memo's official title is "Restoring Good Order and Discipline Through Balanced Accountability," but Hegseth says he calls it the "No More Walking on Eggshells" policy. "So, here's the goal: empower leaders to make tough decisions, enforce standards, and restore good order and discipline," Hegseth said in the video. The memo directs the secretaries to ensure that complaints that "are unsubstantiated by actionable, credible evidence are timely dismissed." Additionally, "favorable actions," such as awards and promotions, involving the alleged offender are to be considered until the complaint is substantiated. Finally, the memo states that those who "knowingly submit false complaints" may face discipline. Read On The Fox News App The secretaries have 45 days to complete their reviews. Hegseth is no stranger to controversy and has faced several allegations since being tapped to lead DoD. It is not a stretch to imagine that he might have empathy for those facing false or unsubstantiated allegations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Rebuffs New Group Chat Allegations As Attempt To 'Sabotage' Trump's Agenda Prior to his confirmation, Hegseth faced allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse and mismanagement of veterans' organizations. This included an affidavit by his former sister-in-law in which she alleged that Hegseth was physically abusive to his ex-wife, Samantha "Sam" Hegseth. However, Sam denied the allegations, saying she did not experience physical abuse during her marriage to Hegseth. Hegseth told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing that he is not a "perfect person," but asserted that he was the subject of a "coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media." Additionally, since becoming secretary of defense, Hegseth has been involved in two scandals regarding the encrypted messaging app Signal. The first scandal occurred when The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a Signal chat in which there were discussions about plans for the U.S. to strike Yemen. While National Security Advisor Mike Waltz took a lot of heat for the situation, Hegseth was not spared from criticism. In the end, the Trump administration insisted that the discussions in the group did not actually involve "war plans." On Sunday, Hegseth was accused of sharing military information in a Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal attorney. The New York Times reported that people with knowledge of the situation said the information "included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen." Hegseth told "FOX & Friends" that the allegations were meant to "sabotage" President Donald Trump's agenda. Despite an op-ed suggesting that Hegseth could be on the way out, the White House has stood behind him. "He is bringing monumental change to the Pentagon, and there's a lot of people in the city who reject monumental change, and I think, frankly, that's why we've seen a smear campaign against the Secretary of Defense since the moment that President Trump announced his nomination before the United States Senate," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday. Diana Stancy contributed to this article source: Hegseth signs 'No More Walking on Eggshells' policy, demands review of equal opportunity complaint process
The Hill
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Hegseth orders review of Pentagon's complaint process
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed a rehaul of the Defense Department (DOD) programs meant for service members and civilian employees to report harassment and discrimination, claiming individuals have 'weaponized' such avenues. Hegseth ordered each military department to review its Military Equal Opportunity (MEO) and civilian Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) programs, according to a memo dated Thursday and released Friday. Entitled 'Restoring Good Order and Discipline Through Balanced Accountability,' the review is meant 'to ensure prompt and impartial investigations, fair treatment of all involved, and timely and appropriate resolution of allegations of discrimination,' the memo states. In a video posted to social media announcing the review, Hegseth said it's 'a good thing' that the DOD has equal opportunity programs for people to report discrimination and harassment. But he insisted that the programs are sometimes 'weaponized,' with some individuals using them 'in bad faith to retaliate' against superiors or peers. 'I hear it all the time. Say you receive a bad evaluation, well, file a military EO complaint. It's nonsense. We want to fix that,' Hegseth said, calling the directive his 'no more walking on eggshells' policy. 'You see too often at the Defense Department there are complaints made for certain reasons that can't be verified that end people's career, either through EO or the [Office of the Inspector General],' Hegseth added. 'We need to reform that process completely so commanders can be commanders.' He did not include specific examples of such abuses of the complaint system, and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to questions from The Hill pertaining to details of such 'bad faith' uses of the EO process. Each service secretary must now 'identify areas for reform, and provide plans to streamline the investigation process, timely address problematic behaviors, and mitigate undue mission impacts,' within 45 days, per Hegseth's memo. The plans must include specific actions to allow unsubstantiated claims to be dismissed quickly. Hegseth also wants officials to take into account the 'favorable personnel actions' of alleged offenders — meaning any promotions, awards, reenlistment, reassignment, or attendance at military or civilian schools — should it seem like a complaint against them is likely to be substantiated. In addition, he asked for administrative and/or disciplinary actions for personnel 'who knowingly submit false complaints.' 'Our personnel deserve fair treatment and a positive work environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment,' Jules Hurst, the acting under secretary of Defense for personnel and readiness, said in a statement accompanying the memo. 'They also deserve qualified leaders who are empowered to make tough decisions, enforce standards, and restore good order and discipline through balanced accountability.'
Fox News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Hegseth signs 'No More Walking on Eggshells' policy, demands review of equal opportunity complaint process
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo on Friday calling for a review of Military Equal Opportunity and DoD civilian Equal Employment Opportunity programs. The secretaries of each military department are required under the memo to assess the programs in place within their own departments. In a video posted on X announcing the memo, Hegseth said that while it's "a good thing" that the military has multiple avenues for both service members and civilians to complain about harassment and discrimination, the systems have been "weaponized" and used "in bad faith to retaliate against superiors or peers." The memo's official title is "Restoring Good Order and Discipline Through Balanced Accountability," but Hegseth says he calls it the "No More Walking on Eggshells" policy. "So, here's the goal: empower leaders to make tough decisions, enforce standards, and restore good order and discipline," Hegseth said in the video. The memo directs the secretaries to ensure that complaints that "are unsubstantiated by actionable, credible evidence are timely dismissed." Additionally, "favorable actions," such as awards and promotions, involving the alleged offender are to be considered until the complaint is substantiated. Finally, the memo states that those who "knowingly submit false complaints" may face discipline. The secretaries have 45 days to complete their reviews. Hegseth is no stranger to controversy and has faced several allegations since being tapped to lead DoD. It is not a stretch to imagine that he might have empathy for those facing false or unsubstantiated allegations. Prior to his confirmation, Hegseth faced allegations of sexual misconduct, alcohol abuse and mismanagement of veterans' organizations. This included an affidavit by his former sister-in-law in which she alleged that Hegseth was physically abusive to his ex-wife, Samantha "Sam" Hegseth. However, Sam denied the allegations, saying she did not experience physical abuse during her marriage to Hegseth. Hegseth told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing that he is not a "perfect person," but asserted that he was the subject of a "coordinated smear campaign orchestrated in the media." Additionally, since becoming secretary of defense, Hegseth has been involved in two scandals regarding the encrypted messaging app Signal. The first scandal occurred when The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg was added to a Signal chat in which there were discussions about plans for the U.S. to strike Yemen. While National Security Advisor Mike Waltz took a lot of heat for the situation, Hegseth was not spared from criticism. In the end, the Trump administration insisted that the discussions in the group did not actually involve "war plans." On Sunday, Hegseth was accused of sharing military information in a Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal attorney. The New York Times reported that people with knowledge of the situation said the information "included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen." Hegseth told "FOX & Friends" that the allegations were meant to "sabotage" President Donald Trump's agenda. Despite an op-ed suggesting that Hegseth could be on the way out, the White House has stood behind him. "He is bringing monumental change to the Pentagon, and there's a lot of people in the city who reject monumental change, and I think, frankly, that's why we've seen a smear campaign against the Secretary of Defense since the moment that President Trump announced his nomination before the United States Senate," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday.
USA Today
07-02-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
DEOMI continues military equal-opportunity training in wake of Trump DEI executive order
DEOMI continues military equal-opportunity training in wake of Trump DEI executive order Show Caption Hide Caption What we know about Trump's immigration executive orders President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders aimed at immigration on his first day in office. Here's what we know about them. After conducting internal reviews, the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute at Patrick Space Force Base is continuing its training programs in accordance with President Donald Trump's executive orders that canceled military education courses focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. DEOMI was established in 1971 as the Defense Race Relations Institute in the wake of the civil rights movement. The institute serves as the Department of Defense's center for occupational training and research in Equal Employment Opportunity and Military Equal Opportunity laws, which deal with unlawful discrimination and harassment. DEOMI has graduated tens of thousands of students from bases and units around the world, and they return to their units as advisers and trainers. In recent years, DEOMI expanded its reach to a wide array of issues "including disability, diversity, sexism, extremism, religious accommodations, and anti-Semitism," an agency press release said. Cape Canaveral: Is there a launch today? Upcoming SpaceX, NASA rocket launch schedule at Cape Canaveral On Jan. 20, Trump issued an executive order titled 'Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.' The U.S. Air Force issued a memorandum two days later, which is posted on the Space Launch Delta 45 website, immediately canceling all military or civilian education or training courses focused on DEI. "DEOMI conducted an internal review of our website, social media platforms and curriculum to ensure we are in line with the recent Executive Orders and conduct all our operations as defined by federal law and policy to ensure we produce capable, trained professionals to best serve the Department of Defense," a DEOMI public affairs staffer said in a Thursday email. The institute declined to provide details on specific changes. DEOMI has a staff of about 150 military and civilian personnel, with a command staff composed of Air Force, Army and DoD leaders. The institute, which has its headquarters at Patrick, produced more than 2,000 EEO and MEO graduates during the past fiscal year. "DEOMI will remain in compliance with the Executive Order, future directives, law, and policy to give our stakeholders and the U.S. public a trained and capable warfighting force in support of the defense of the Nation," the email said. For the latest news from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Neale at Rneale@ Twitter/X: @RickNeale1 Space is important to us and that's why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here.
