Pete Hegseth, the newly confirmed U.S. Defense Secretary, is stepping into the Pentagon with big plans to shake things up. But his vision might not sit well with everyone. Hegseth, an Army veteran and former Fox News host, wants to bring back what he calls the “warrior ethos” to the military. He argues that efforts to diversify the armed forces have weakened its standards.

This stance is already sparking debate. The military has long worked to build a force that reflects America’s diversity, seeing it as a strength. Over 10,000 women currently serve in combat roles, from infantry to elite units like the Green Berets and Army Rangers. Hegseth’s claim that standards were “lowered” to include women and minorities could face strong resistance from those who see diversity as a key part of the military’s success.

Hegseth has also vowed to tackle recruitment and readiness challenges, promising to restore “lethality” to the Pentagon. But experts point out that these issues have been a priority for years. “The Department of Defense is already focused on lethality,” said one analyst. “They’re not going to fight him on that.”

As Hegseth takes the helm, his views—shaped by his time as a conservative media figure and author of The War on Warriors—will likely clash with the military’s apolitical traditions. Whether his approach will resonate or create friction remains to be seen.