'Drama' embroils Pentagon as angry Pete Hegseth throws his own Army under the bus

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's anger over the rescinding of an Army memo on new standards has the branch reeling to come up with something that will make him happy, resulting in "some internal drama."

According to a report from The Hill, Hegseth was furious when the Army withdrew new academic standards it had recently issued for Reserve Officers' Training Corps cadets, just days after announcing an implementation date.

The Army had released fresh standards earlier this month establishing academic benchmarks for incoming ROTC cadets, requiring them to score a 20 on the ACT, a 1000 on the SAT, or test in the 50th percentile on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.

The new requirement was scheduled to take effect in January 2027, when all students seeking to contract into SROTC would need to achieve a 110 on the ASVAB or provide proof of meeting prescribed scores on the SAT and ACT.

Days after the memo was issued, the Under Secretary of the Army Mike Obadal rescinded it, stating it required "further staffing and analysis."

The New York Post reported that Hegseth was furious about Obadal's withdrawal. When contacted, Hegseth's office tersely referred inquiries to the Army.

According to The Hill, "The rescission prompted gripes among some defense officials, who privately argue the service branch should have minimum standards in line with Hegseth’s push to raise standards for military officers, which has also included a focus on fitness and grooming."

The Army indicated it "is not abandoning the effort but will require 'additional input from senior leadership'" before proceeding with new academic standards for ROTC candidates.