Pete Hegseth to Sen. Ernst: Women Will Have Access to Ground Combat Roles

EXCERPT:

HEGSETH: “Yes, women will have access to ground combat roles, combat roles given the standards remain high and we'll have a review to ensure the standards have not been eroded. In any one of these cases that'll be part of -- one of the first things we do at the Pentagon is reviewing that in a gender-neutral way, the standards, ensuring readiness and meritocracy is front and center but absolutely it would be the privilege of a lifetime to -- if confirmed to be the Secretary of Defense for all men and women in uniform who fight so heroically -- they have so many other options, they decide to put their right hand up for our country, and it would be an honor to have a chance to lead them."