Leaning into culture war flashpoints, Hegseth announces new Pentagon initiatives

NPR | By Quil Lawrence,

Michel Martin

Published October 1, 2026 at 4:41 AM EDT

In an address to troops, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth leaned hard into culture war flashpoints, while touting new military initiatives.

Quil Lawrence

Quil Lawrence is a New York-based correspondent for NPR News, covering national security and veterans' issues nationwide.

Michel Martin

Michel Martin is a host of Morning Edition.