War Secretary Pete Hegseth has replaced Texas National Guard troops who failed to meet physical fitness standards, declaring “standards are back” as he wages war against what he calls “fat troops” undermining military readiness.
Story Highlights
- Texas National Guard troops were replaced for failing fitness standards during the Chicago deployment.
- Hegseth declares war on “fat troops” and “fat generals” across all military branches.
- The physical fitness validation process is implemented for all active duty mobilizations.
- Military leadership summoned to Quantico for fitness accountability briefing.
Fitness Standards Restored Under New Leadership
War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that several Texas National Guard troops deployed to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations near Chicago have been removed from duty for failing to meet physical fitness requirements.
The action follows a viral Associated Press photograph showing apparently overweight guardsmen arriving in Illinois, sparking national attention to military fitness standards. Hegseth used the incident to reinforce his commitment to restoring what he calls proper military discipline and readiness.
Standards are back at The @DeptofWar. pic.twitter.com/f2YScwhmMI
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) October 13, 2025
Swift Accountability Measures Implemented
The Texas Military Department confirmed that troops were mobilized within 24 hours for the Federal Protection Mission, necessitating concurrent validation processes. Department spokesperson told Task & Purpose that “a small group of service members who were not in compliance have been replaced.”
The National Guard Bureau emphasized that soldiers and airmen must meet service-specific height, weight, and physical fitness standards at all times. When members fail to comply during active duty mobilization, they return to home stations while qualified replacements take their positions.
Hegseth is going to lose his mind.
I'm here for it.
Texas National Guard arrives in Chicago….for the food I assume. pic.twitter.com/Y9v2xI4eMF
— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) October 7, 2025
Pentagon Leadership Accountability Campaign
Hegseth has launched a comprehensive fitness initiative targeting military personnel at all levels, including senior leadership.
After summoning hundreds of senior military officials to Marine Corps University at Quantico, he emphasized personal accountability by stating, “If the Secretary of War can do regular, hard PT, so can every member of our joint force.”
He specifically rejected “hot yoga and stretching” as inadequate, demanding “real, hard PT” from all service members. Hegseth’s blunt assessment that it’s “tiring to see fat troops” and “unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals” signals a major cultural shift in Pentagon leadership expectations.
Legal Challenges to Deployment Operations
The remaining Texas National Guard troops in Illinois face deployment delays due to legal obstacles unrelated to fitness standards.
Appeals Court Judge April Perry issued a temporary restraining order, stating she has “seen no credible evidence of danger of rebellion in Illinois” and questioning Department of Homeland Security threat assessments.
The ruling temporarily blocks the troops from supporting ICE operations while legal challenges proceed through federal courts. This judicial intervention highlights ongoing resistance to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts at the state level.
