Critics Slam New U.S. Military Grooming Policy as 'Racist' and Discriminatory Towards Black Servicemembers

Several branches of the U.S. military are revamping their policies on pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB), popularly known as razor bumps, which disproportionately affects Black men. Critics claim that these new measures unfairly target this demographic, highlighting that individuals with medical waivers for short beards have historically faced slower promotion rates compared to their peers without waivers. In recent updates, the Marine Corps mandated PFB-related medical evaluations every 90 days, and Air Force regulations now limit shaving waivers to three months post-medical evaluations. According to dermatologist Chris Adigun, this policy is markedly discriminatory, as razor bumps are determined by genetics and do not affect job performance. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology notes that PFB affects approximately 60% of Black men. Experts express concern that these policy shifts could hinder diversity and inclusion within the military.