Hegseth Directs Review of Equal Opportunity Complaint Process

By David Vergun | DOD News

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memorandum April 23 titled “Restoring Good Order and Discipline Through Balanced Accountability.”

The memo directs the secretaries of each military department to conduct a comprehensive review of their Military Equal Opportunity and DOD civilian Equal Employment Opportunity programs to ensure prompt and impartial investigations, fair treatment to all parties involved, and timely and appropriate resolution of allegations of discrimination.

The mission of the programs is to ensure all individuals are provided with a full and fair opportunity for employment, career advancement and access to programs without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, genetic information or parental status.

The programs allow personnel to report discrimination and harassment, and that’s a good thing, Hegseth said.

“But what’s NOT good is when these programs are weaponized. Some individuals use these programs in bad faith to retaliate against superiors or peers,” he added.

The memo states that leaders must be empowered to make tough decisions, enforce standards, and restore good order and discipline through balanced accountability.

Hegseth said unverified complaints often end careers.

In support of that effort, he directed the military secretaries to review the programs, identify areas for reform and provide plans to streamline the investigation process, timely address problematic behaviors and mitigate undue mission impacts.

Too often, complaints are made for reasons that can’t be verified, and they end people’s careers, the secretary said, citing the example of someone who files a complaint against their commander anonymously or lacking substantiating evidence.

“Your career is impacted. You can’t get promoted. You can’t take command. You can’t move to a new duty station until you’re cleared of the complaint,” Hegseth said.

Plans are due to the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness within 45 days of the memo’s publication date.

“We need to reform [the EO] process completely so commanders can be commanders,” Hegseth said.

The clock for the comprehensive review directed in the memo began ticking April 23. The results of this review will drive reforms throughout the department, streamlining processes, addressing problematic behaviors and mitigating undue mission impacts.

Introducing the “No More Walking On Eggshells” policy. pic.twitter.com/zOcAW2z2X7

— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) April 25, 2025

RESTORING-GOOD-ORDER-AND-DISCIPLINE-THROUGH-BALANCED-ACCOUNTABILITY (pdf)

Statement by Jules W. Hurst III, Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on the “Restoring Good Order and Discipline Through Balanced Accountability” Memorandum (DOD)

The Secretary of Defense has directed each of the Military Departments to immediately begin conducting a comprehensive review of their Military Equal Opportunity (MEO) and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) programs and processes. More information can be found here.

Our personnel deserve fair treatment and a positive work environment free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. They also deserve qualified leaders who are empowered to make tough decisions, enforce standards, and restore good order and discipline through balanced accountability.

Within 45 days from the date of this memorandum, the Military Departments will be required to review their MEO and EEO programs and processes, identify reforms, and submit to my office specific, actionable plans to streamline investigation processes, address problematic behaviors, and mitigate undue mission impacts.

Protecting MEO and EEO programs and processes is critical to advancing meritocracy and balancing accountability. It is also the right thing to do for the Department of Defense (DoD) and our workforce.

The comprehensive review will make certain that these programs and processes are timely, efficient, and effective, and that the tools designed to support them are applied in a manner consistent with our mission and values.

The strength of DoD comes from our unity and our shared purpose. The Department is committed to reforming and enhancing MEO and EEO programs and processes in line with these objectives, ensuring that we can maintain a ready, lethal, and effective Total Force and achieve peace through strength.