War Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed Texas National Guard troops from federal duty for failing to meet physical fitness standards, declaring that military excellence demands fit soldiers ready for combat.
Story Highlights
- Pete Hegseth replaced overweight Texas National Guard troops deployed to support ICE operations in Illinois.
- Hegseth declared “standards are back” after viral photos showed apparently unfit soldiers arriving in Chicago.
- Defense Secretary emphasized that “fat troops” and “fat generals” are unacceptable in military formations.
- A court restraining order has temporarily blocked the remaining Texas troops from deploying in Illinois.
Hegseth Enforces Military Fitness Standards
War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that Texas National Guard troops who failed to meet physical fitness requirements have been removed from federal deployment and replaced with qualified personnel.
The action followed viral photographs showing apparently overweight soldiers arriving just outside Chicago to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Hegseth declared that “standards are back” in his department, signaling a return to rigorous military requirements that prioritize combat readiness over lowered expectations.
Standards are back at The @DeptofWar. pic.twitter.com/f2YScwhmMI
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) October 13, 2025
Rapid Response Reveals Validation Gaps
The Texas Military Department acknowledged that the speed of mobilization for the Federal Protection Mission necessitated a concurrent validation process. During this review, officials identified a small group of service members not in compliance with fitness standards.
The National Guard Bureau reinforced that soldiers and airmen must meet service-specific height, weight, and physical fitness standards at all times. When members fail to meet these requirements during active duty mobilization, they return to home stations while qualified replacements take their positions.
Standards are back at The @DeptofWar. pic.twitter.com/f2YScwhmMI
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) October 13, 2025
Combat Readiness Over Political Correctness
Hegseth has consistently emphasized that military effectiveness requires physical fitness throughout all ranks. After summoning hundreds of senior military officials to Marine Corps University at Quantico, he stated that if the Secretary of War can maintain regular, hard physical training, every joint force member should meet the same standard.
He specifically dismissed “hot yoga and stretching” as insufficient, demanding real, hard physical training either as units or individuals. This approach represents common-sense leadership that prioritizes mission capability over feel-good policies.
Leadership Sets Example for Military Excellence
The War Secretary frequently posts photos and videos of his workouts with soldiers, demonstrating leadership by example rather than bureaucratic mandates.
Hegseth expressed frustration with seeing unfit troops in combat formations and declared it completely unacceptable to have overweight generals and admirals leading commands from the Pentagon.
His direct approach challenges years of declining standards that compromised military readiness. Meanwhile, a federal appeals court judge has temporarily restrained the remaining Texas troops from deploying, citing a lack of credible evidence of rebellion in Illinois.
