Ex-CIA director Leon Panetta ‘hopeful’ that Trump will be more Reagan than ‘America First’ on national security

In January 2013, as US defense secretary, Leon Panetta lifted a ban on women serving in combat. Some time after January 2025, if Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump’s nominee for the role, is confirmed and stays true to his expressed position, that ban may be reimposed.

“I’m particularly concerned about that, having been the secretary that opened up that opportunity for women to be in combat,” Panetta told the Guardian. “And I’m very proud of it, because I think they performed well. They’re great warriors. I’ve seen them in action in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere. And we now have over 200,000 women who are part of the military … In a democracy like the United States, it makes sense for everyone who’s willing to serve to have that opportunity.”

Women can fight. Ukrainian women prove it each day of their war with Russia. But Hegseth has said he thinks otherwise – and has also opposed service by out gay Americans, another group Panetta welcomed.