US imposes strict beard ban in military; Sikh soldiers call policy a blow to religious freedom
PTC Web Desk: The United States military is facing a wave of criticism after Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a sweeping new grooming policy that bans most service members from keeping beards, with exemptions limited only to select special forces.
The decision, unveiled during Hegseth’s speech at Quantico, has triggered strong reactions from civil rights groups, veterans, and religious freedom advocates, who argue that the policy discriminates against troops whose faith or health conditions require them to maintain facial hair.
While outlining the policy, Hegseth said bluntly: “If you want a beard, join special forces. If not, shave. We don’t have a military full of Nordic pagans.”
Pete Hegseth:
If you want a beard you can join special forces, if not then shave.
We don't have a military full of Nordic Pagans. pic.twitter.com/MbBLLD74Kr — Clash Report (@clashreport) September 30, 2025
He argued that the days of “rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles” , a reference to medical and religious waivers that allowed exceptions, are over.
The new rules effectively roll back years of progress toward religious accommodations and health-based exemptions, narrowing eligibility to non-deployable positions with minimal chemical or fire-related risks.
The policy disproportionately affects religious groups for whom facial hair is an article of faith: For Sikhs, maintaining unshorn hair is central to their religion. A Sikh Coalition attorney described the ban as devastating, stating: “For Sikh soldiers, shaving is like cutting off a limb.” Both Muslims and Jews communities also include believers obligated to maintain beards for religious reasons.
In 2022, a federal court ruled in favour of Sikh recruits wearing turbans and keeping their beards in basic training, a landmark case now at risk of reversal under the new regulations.
The rules also impact soldiers with pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), a painful skin condition worsened by shaving. The condition is particularly common among Black men, with dermatology studies showing it affects up to 60% of them.
NAACP President Derrick Johnson condemned the move as part of “a broader assault on Black identity disguised as uniformity.”
Opponents argue that beard accommodations already had strict grooming standards and required multiple layers of approval. Kyle Bibby, a former Marine captain and co-founder of the Black Veterans Project, called the new rule unjust: “If someone is good at their job but has a medical condition or religious belief, it’s absurd to punish them for that.”
Many see the ban as part of a wider rollback of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) policies under a Pentagon increasingly influenced by hardline, MAGA-aligned leadership.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has formally written to Hegseth, demanding clarification and insisting that religious freedom is a constitutional right , even for service members.
Civil rights lawyers warn that the policy could trigger new lawsuits, especially since it conflicts with previous court rulings on religious rights in the armed forces.
Reports suggest thousands of military personnel have taken to social media to voice anger over the stricter beard policy, with some claiming they may consider leaving the service if forced to shave against their faith or health needs.
- With inputs from agencies
