Hegseth vows women can remain in combat roles, if standards 'remain high'

Defense Secretary-designate Pete Hegseth vowed that women would maintain access to combat roles, provided standards for those positions "remain high" and vowed a gender-neutral review of current practices should he be confirmed to lead the Pentagon.

The former Fox News personality has previously expressed support for keeping women out of combat roles. During an exchange with Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, he said women could remain if they were held to high standards.

"One of the first things we['ll] do at the Pentagon is reviewing that in a gender-neutral way," he said, according to The Hill.

"The standards of readiness and meritocracy is front and center, but absolutely," he said. "It would be the privilege of a lifetime, if confirmed, to be the secretary of Defense for all men and women in uniform who fight so heroically. They have so many other options. They decide to put their right hand up for our country, and it would be an honor to have the chance to lead them.” 

Other senators pressed him on the apparent about-face.

"You've testified here today that you believe in women in combat, but you didn't just last year. How do you explain your conversion?" asked Sen. Angus King, I-ME.

"Senator, my testimony is clear, writing a book is different than being Secretary of Defense, and I look forward to leading the men and women of our military," Hegseth replied. "And my comment there, Senator was about the burdensome rules of engagement that members of our of our generation, men and women have seen on the battlefield. And one thing President Trump changed in meaningful ways that led to meaningful developments on the battlefield."