Congress wants to know if pilots and security guards can still defend the skies with facial hair.
An amendment included in the House Armed Services Committee’s draft annual defense authorization bill would mandate the creation of a new pilot program that would allow some members of the Air Force and Space Force to grow beards.
The idea has been discussed by service officials in the past, but has not been acted upon in recent years. Navy officials recently completed a study into whether beards would interfere with military personnel’s gas mask seals, but have yet to publicly release those results.
Language passed unanimously Wednesday for the authorization bill would require the Air Force to conduct the pilot to test similar work-related complications of facial hair, as well as to gauge “the effect of beard growth on discipline, morale and unity within the ranks.”
The pilot program – proposed by Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas – would also look at “whether allowing members to grow beards improves inclusivity, including for members with conditions such as pseudofolliculitis barbae or those who want to grow beards for religious purposes.”
Sailors and Marines could see changes in how beards are accommodated
Air Force policy currently bans beards for all airmen except those who have five-year medical exemptions for pseudofolliculitis barbae – chronic razor bumps – or religious exemptions.
Military.com reported last month that razor waivers for medical conditions in the Air Force and Space Force have nearly doubled since 2021. Service officials would have six months after passage of the authorization law to launch the pilot program. Some have suggested that the Air Force investigate those who already have a shaving exemption, rather than finding an entirely new group of participants.
Committee members also included a provision in the draft authorization bill to force a congressional briefing on the Navy investigation so that lawmakers can better understand the impact of such a policy change.
However, before either provision becomes law, members of Congress will have to pass the enabling bill. That process is expected to take several months as negotiators from both the House of Representatives and the Senate work out differences over their respective proposals.
