Pete Hegseth, the president-elect’s nominee to lead the Pentagon, promised Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA), an Iraq War veteran, that women would be able to continue to serve in combat roles if they’re able to meet “high” standards. “Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles given the standards remain high. And we’ll have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded in any one of these cases,” said Mr. Hegseth, an Army veteran and former Fox News host. “That’ll be part of one of the first things we do at the Pentagon, is reviewing that in a gender-neutral way. The standards of readiness and meritocracy is front and center.” Mr. Hegseth said in early November, before he was nominated, that women should not serve in combat roles. “It hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated,” he said on a podcast. Watch more at c-span.org
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