Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth looks on during a meeting with Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 10, 2025. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday confirmed that he sent some Texas National Guard members in Illinois home over their weight, saying "standards are back" in his department.
Following his speech for top military brass earlier this month, where he argued against “fat troops” and “fat generals," Hegseth confirmed he had sent some overweight members home, The Daily Beast reports.
“In less than 24 hours, Texas National Guardsmen mobilized for the Federal Protection Mission,” a department spokesperson told military news website Task & Purpose. “The speed of the response necessitated a concurrent validation process, during which we identified a small group of service members who were not in compliance and have been replaced.”
It's unclear if Hegseth or his department saw an image circulating online of several service members arriving in Illinois.
The National Guard Bureau also shared this statement in the days after the image was taken:
“National Guard Soldiers and Airman are required to meet service-specific height, weight and physical fitness standards at all times.”
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