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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has praised the Texas National Guard’s decision to remove and replace a group of deployed troops in Illinois who failed to meet military fitness standards.

Getting into it: The move, which was ignited after photos taken by ABC showed some Texas National Guard soldiers arriving in Illinois who appeared noticeably overweight, sparked a wave of criticism and online ridicule. Social media users were quick to seize on the optics, with some mocking the troops’ appearance and others highlighting the irony given Hegseth’s recent push for a more combat-ready force. Critics took jabs at Hegseth, pointing to his recent speech urging a return to military discipline and his vow to eliminate what he called “fat troops” and “fat generals.”

In response to the public backlash, the Texas Military Department initiated a review of the 200 deployed soldiers and identified a “small group” that were not in compliance with the military’s height, weight, and physical readiness standards. A spokesperson confirmed those individuals were promptly replaced with personnel who met the necessary criteria.

The department noted that due to the speed of the mobilization, a validation process had to be conducted, which led to the discovery of the non-compliant soldiers. However, officials did not disclose how many troops were removed or the exact nature of their deficiencies.

Hegseth quickly applauded the Texas Guard’s action, sharing a news article from Task & Purpose about the replacements on social media with the caption: “Standards are back at The @DeptofWar.” His endorsement of the move comes amid his broader campaign to overhaul the military’s approach to readiness, which includes mandatory physical fitness tests for all service members, the removal of gender-based fitness accommodations, and a crackdown on what he deems “woke shit” within the ranks.