Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), a former Navy pilot running for New Jersey governor, on Tuesday accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of trying to force women out of the military after he announced the “highest male standard” would be imposed on all combat roles in the armed forces.

“Eliminating the current highly rigorous standards for women in combat positions has nothing to do with increasing lethality and everything to do with forcing women out of the Armed Services,” Sherrill said in a statement after the secretary’s announcement.

“Secretary Hegseth has said he does not believe women should serve in combat,” she continued. “Now he is trying to make that happen by........

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