U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has intensified his push against facial hair in the ranks, with the War Department on Monday issuing new guidance tied to a late-August memo. The directive instructs commanders to begin “involuntary separation” for servicemembers who continue to require shaving waivers after more than a year of medical treatment — a policy estimated to affect 10–15% of all Airmen, Guardians, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers. The majority of those impacted are Black servicemembers who suffer from conditions such as Pseudofolliculitis Barbae.

In the announcement, Hegseth said, “The grooming standard set by the U.S. military is to be clean-shaven and neat in presentation for a proper military appearance.”