July 10, 2025 (Washington, DC) — This week, the U.S. Army announced an updated facial hair grooming policy. Given the Sikh Coalition’s more than 15 years of work alongside partners to ensure equality of opportunity for Sikhs employed by the Department of Defense, we continue to monitor this issue closely.
Thankfully, at this time, religious accommodations—like those maintained by Sikh soldiers—are not affected by this policy. Given the policy change and the increased scrutiny around beards within the Army, however, it is advisable for Sikh servicemembers who have accommodations to carry the paperwork (either physically or digitally) that authorizes those accommodations on them. They should also be prepared to answer questions about their religious beliefs and the necessity of maintaining kesh or other articles of faith inherent in those beliefs. Our legal and advocacy teams continue to monitor developments in this area closely, and we and our co-counsels will continue to provide advice and updates to current and former clients as needed.
In the meantime, the Sikh Coalition has issued a statement pushing back against the policy change given the way it will disproportionately harm individuals with medical accommodations to maintain beards. For reference, the new policy bars permanent shaving waivers (other than religious accommodations) and requires medical personnel to craft treatment plans for troops that have medical accommodations; it could also lead to the expulsion of soldiers who need shaving exemptions for more than 12 months over a 2-year period. Unfortunately, we have seen in other employment sectors—including our ongoing legal efforts against the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation—that the same policies that discriminate against those with a medical need to not shave are also often used to infringe upon the rights of Sikhs who maintain their kesh. The Sikh Coalition believes it is important to stand in solidarity with Black men, South Asian men, and others who have medical conditions like pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) that inhibit shaving in order to ensure equality of opportunity and reasonable accommodations for all.
If you or someone you know is in need of assistance with a workplace accommodation for your articles of faith—in the U.S. military or elsewhere—please do not hesitate to reach out to the Sikh Coalition. We continue to advocate for Sikhs in the U.S. military to be able to maintain their articles of faith specifically because no one should ever have to make the false choice between their faith and their career. Moreover, we recognize that the U.S. Department of Defense is the largest employer in the United States, and the policies that it adopts around inclusion of workers from diverse backgrounds have a strong downwind effect elsewhere in the public and private sectors.
As always, the Sikh Coalition urges you to practice your faith fearlessly.