What is the Difference between Equity and Equality?
During his Senate confirmation hearing on January 14, 2025, Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, expressed his views on equity and equality. Hegseth argued that modern diversity and inclusion policies “divide” current troops and do not prioritize “meritocracy.” He emphasized that the military should focus on “lethality, meritocracy, standards, and readiness.” Hegseth’s comments were part of a broader discussion of his stance against what he called “woke” culture in the military.