U.S. Cracks Down on “Fat Troops” as Trump’s Defense Chief Declares: “Standards Are Back”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is taking aim at what he calls “the soft belly of the modern military,” sending home National Guard members who failed to meet weight and fitness requirements — and making clear that President Trump’s Pentagon won’t tolerate “lowered standards.”

Hegseth confirmed Monday that several Texas National Guard soldiers were replaced after showing up for federal duty in Illinois “out of compliance.” The move came after a viral photo showed the troops arriving outside Chicago, where Trump’s administration has sought to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations amid rising border tensions.

“Standards are back at the Department of War,” Hegseth wrote on X (formerly Twitter), echoing his earlier promise to restore “discipline, readiness, and pride” to the U.S. armed forces.

Viral Photo Sparks Swift Action

The Associated Press image of Texas Guardsmen stepping off buses — some appearing less than combat-ready — quickly caught fire online, prompting both mockery and support. “Texas National Guard arrives in Chicago… for the food, I assume,” one liberal commentator quipped.

But within 24 hours, Hegseth’s team had already begun removing personnel who didn’t meet height, weight, or fitness standards.

“The speed of the response necessitated a concurrent validation process, during which we identified a small group of service members who were not in compliance and have been replaced,” a Defense Department spokesperson told Task & Purpose.

The National Guard Bureau later reaffirmed the policy in a statement: “National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are required to meet service-specific height, weight, and physical fitness standards at all times… Those who fail to do so will be returned to their home station.”

“No Fat Generals, No Fat Troops”

Since taking over the Pentagon earlier this year, Hegseth has made restoring military toughness a signature issue. The former Army officer and Fox News veteran has repeatedly slammed what he calls the “woke rot” that plagued the military during the Biden years — from diversity workshops to lowered fitness standards.

“Frankly, it’s tiring to look out at formations and see fat troops,” Hegseth said last month during a fiery address at Marine Corps University in Quantico. “It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals walking the halls of the Pentagon. If the Secretary of War can do hard PT, so can everyone else.”

Hegseth, 45, is known for posting videos of his pre-dawn workouts and field runs alongside active-duty soldiers. “Hot yoga doesn’t count,” he joked during his speech. “Real PT — running, rucking, sweating — that’s how warriors are made.”

Illinois Deployment Stalls Amid Legal Fight

Roughly 200 members of the Texas National Guard arrived in Illinois last week to assist in the federal protection mission, but their deployment has since been halted by an appeals court.

Judge April Perry issued a temporary restraining order, arguing she saw “no credible evidence of rebellion” in Illinois — an apparent jab at the administration’s justification for the mobilization.

Still, Trump officials say the effort is vital to national security. One senior White House aide told The Daily Caller, “We’re rebuilding the armed forces that Joe Biden gutted. Secretary Hegseth isn’t firing people — he’s enforcing standards. The days of soft soldiers and political correctness are over.”

A New Era of Accountability

While critics accuse Hegseth of body-shaming troops, supporters say his focus on discipline and physical readiness is long overdue. Retired Army Command Sgt. Major James Sisco praised the move: “When the Pentagon stops tolerating mediocrity, the country wins. Combat doesn’t care about your feelings or your pronouns — it cares about who can carry 80 pounds of gear uphill.”

As Trump’s second-term defense strategy continues to take shape, insiders say Hegseth’s “War on Weakness” is just beginning — and the message to America’s troops couldn’t be clearer: meet the standard, or pack your bags.