More Bullshit from an Unqualified SECDEF: Institutionalized Racism is Back
The Pentagon’s new Army shaving policy is a disgraceful regression, plain and simple—a bureaucratic maneuver that targets Black men under the pretense of “standards” while reinforcing the very institutional racism the military claims to have left behind. This policy will allow soldiers with pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB)—a chronic skin condition that disproportionately affects Black men—to be discharged if their condition persists, even though up to 60% of Black men are affected by it. There’s no tactical justification for this move; as even senior noncommissioned officers admit, “one can appear professional with facial hair”.
Let’s call this what it is: a racially motivated crackdown masquerading as discipline. The military’s own history shows that grooming standards have been weaponized to exclude and punish Black service members. In the 1970s, the Navy loosened beard restrictions precisely because shaving was causing medical harm to Black sailors. Now, under the guise of “restoring standards,” leaders like Pete Hegseth—who has already gutted diversity initiatives—are pushing policies that will disproportionately purge Black troops from the ranks.
The excuses about “unit cohesion” or gas mask seals don’t hold water. Recent research found no conclusive evidence that well-groomed facial hair undermines mask integrity for the vast majority of military roles. In fact, only a tiny fraction of service members ever operate in environments where a perfect gas mask seal is even relevant. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is prepared to spend thousands per soldier on laser treatments—treatments that themselves can cause scarring and skin discoloration—rather than simply allow a beard.
This policy isn’t about readiness. It’s about sending a message to Black Americans: you’re welcome to serve, but only if you’re willing to risk permanent skin damage or accept discharge for a genetic condition. At a time when the Army is struggling to recruit and retain talent—especially from minority communities—this is an unnecessary, punitive step that will only deepen the crisis. The numbers speak for themselves: Black Americans make up about 14% of the U.S. population but have accounted for roughly a quarter of new Army recruits in recent years. Instead of valuing that commitment, the Pentagon is choosing to push them out.
And let’s not ignore the political context. This crackdown follows Hegseth’s and Trump’s broader assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion—policies that were already under attack. The rhetoric about “making standards high and great again” is just a smokescreen for rolling back hard-won progress and re-entrenching the old boys’ club.
This is a shameful chapter for the military. It’s not about discipline or professionalism; it’s about exclusion, plain and simple. And it’s exactly the kind of institutionalized racism that we fought to dismantle—not reinforce.
Steve Beynon