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Sikh Coalition decries Defence Secretary's ban on beards in U.S. Armed Forces
A memorandum states that the Department of Defense will revert back to pre-2010 standards where facial hair waivers were generally not authorized.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Wed, 01, Oct 2025
- 02:40 EDT
- 34
The Sikh Coalition Logo / The Sikh Coalition
The Sikh Coalition on Sept,30 lambasted U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for his comments on grooming practices in the Army.
Hegseth, while addressing military commanders at Quantico, Virginia, spoke extensively about "wokeness". During the speech, he made multiple remarks about serving personnel with beards. He said, "No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression”. He also said, “no more beardo-s."
The United States Army's 'facial hair grooming standards' policy previously allowed for religious accommodations to its grooming standards, allowing serving Sikhs to grow beards and thereby comply with their religious requirements while serving. However, Hegseth, in his comments, contradicted this policy and announced a near zero-tolerance policy.
The memorandum that was published after the announcement stated that the Department of Defense will revert to pre-2010 standards where facial hair waivers were generally not authorized.
The memo noted, “Uniform grooming standards are not about appearance -they are about survivability, interoperability, and mission execution.”
ALSO READ: Hegseth slams 'fat generals,' says U.S. officers should resign if they don't support his agenda
It further added, “Consistent enforcement ensures personnel can operate protective equipment, meet deployment requirements, and support combat and emergency operations.”
Condemning the policy revision, Sikh coalition said in a statement, "The Sikh Coalition is angered and deeply concerned by the Secretary of Defense’s comments in regards to grooming and uniform standards within the military that were made today."
It added, "Time and time again, Sikhs have shown that exercising their freedom of religion—one of the foundational rights that members of the military fight to uphold—does not make them less capable of honorable and effective service."
Previously, the updated policy issued by the US Army on July 7 barred permanent shaving waivers beyond religious accommodations. The July order provided for religious accommodations but took away permanent waivers offered to individuals with medical conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae (razor-bumps), disproportionately affecting black and Asian personnel.
Apart from announcing an end to shaving-waivers, Hegseth also made sweeping comments on, "fat generals and admirals," "social justice, politically correct and toxic ideological garbage," and women in combat roles.
The Sikh coalition noted that it is on high alert to fully process what the new orders meant for Sikh personnel serving across multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and also claimed that the new policy is likely to have an effect on religious rights of Sikhs throughout the public and private sector.
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