The Pentagon is taking direct action to restore focus and discipline in America’s military education system.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Thursday that a new task force is being created to investigate and eliminate what he described as neo-Marxist ideology and DEI indoctrination within America’s senior military colleges.
In a video message, Hegseth made it clear that the goal is simple: bring military training back to its core mission — preparing leaders to win wars.
“We want military leaders who are critical thinkers; that have studied the principles upon which our Founding Fathers established this republic; and that are educated and prepared to win wars,” Hegseth said.
He contrasted the effort with what he called the “wokeness and weakness” of the previous administration, saying America’s warfighters deserve training rooted in strength, deterrence, and the warrior ethos.
To lead the effort, Hegseth instructed Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness Anthony Tata to form a task force that will evaluate America’s senior service colleges — institutions where high-ranking officers continue their education.
These include the Army War College, Naval War College, National Defense University, and other similar institutions responsible for shaping the next generation of military leadership.
According to Hegseth, the task force will review professors, administrators, and course material to ensure the focus remains on national security, military strategy, history, and excellence. The goal is to guarantee that meritocracy and high standards — not political activism — guide military education.
In short, the military will focus on preparing leaders to defend the country… not on turning classrooms into ideological seminars.
“Trust me, I’ve heard the stories,” Hegseth said. “Some of our own senior service colleges have similar courses and similar ideologies. We need to rip ’em out, and we’re going to.”
The task force has been given 90 days to conduct its review, identify any deficiencies, and ensure the institutions are focused on core national security priorities.
Concerns about political ideology entering military education have grown in recent years. One example cited involved a 2024 event at the Naval War College featuring Col. Bree Fram, a trans-identifying officer who advocated for the normalization of gender dysphoria and emphasized the importance of so-called “inclusion” within the military.
Fram, who came out as transgender in 2016, was later removed from military service following the Pentagon’s prohibition on gender dysphoric individuals serving. He has since launched a congressional campaign as a Democrat in Virginia ahead of a special election that could impact the state’s congressional map.
Investigations by researchers and journalists have also documented concerns about ideological influence within some military institutions, raising alarms among those who believe the armed forces must remain focused on combat readiness above all else.
Hegseth’s directive is part of a broader effort to refocus the military on merit, strength, and mission readiness. Since taking office, he has already signed memoranda banning affirmative action policies at military academies and enforcing President Donald Trump’s orders to eliminate DEI programs across the armed forces.
For many supporters of the reforms, the mission is clear: America’s military should be training warriors, not activists. And with this new task force in place, the Pentagon is sending a message that the focus is returning to what matters most — strength, readiness, and defending the United States
