Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently signed a memorandum enacting internal reforms across the Department of Defense (DOD) relating to how the military handles equal opportunity complaints.
The memorandum, which Secretary Hegseth nicknamed the “No More Walking On Eggshells” policy, seeks to counteract specious Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complaints.
According to Hegseth, unsupported EEO complaints have disrupted the military and unjustifiably hindered leaders’ capacity to carry out their responsibilities.
“The programs allow personnel to report discrimination and harassment, and that's a good thing,” said Hegseth. "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."
The military’s EEO complaint mechanisms permit service members to report conduct they believe has been carried out against them due to their race, color, religion, national origin, disability (physical or mental), gender, age, sexual orientation, or parental status.
Complaints can also involve accusations of sexual harassment.
“Too often, complaints are made for reasons that can't be verified, and they end people's careers,” continued Hegseth.
Hegseth’s memorandum, officially titled ‘Restoring Good Order and Discipline Through Balanced Accountability,’ commands the DOD to review the EEO complaint process, streamline it, and propose solutions for complaint misuse.
Specifically, Hegseth requested EEO complaint reforms must establish mechanisms for timely dismissing unsubstantiated complaints and holding the individuals responsible for knowingly submitting such complaints accountable.
The planned reforms must be drafted and submitted to Hegseth for review within 45 days of the memorandum’s effective date.
“The results of this review will drive reforms throughout the department, streamlining processes, addressing problematic behaviors and mitigating undue mission impacts,” said DOD in a statement.
