Pentagon Grooming Rules Face Criticism Over Religious Accommodations

The U.S. military is changing its rules about facial hair and hairstyles.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is leading the effort, which restricts beards and long hair.

This change affects people with religious beliefs, such as Sikhs, Orthodox Jews, and Muslims, who may have difficulty following the new rules.

A Pentagon memo stated the military is going back to older standards.

This has led to concerns from groups like the Sikh Coalition, which argues that religious practices do not hinder military effectiveness.

The new rules have a deadline for the changes.