This is accurate — Hegseth did issue a memo Thursday (April 2) allowing service members to request permission to carry personal firearms on military bases, reversing decades of policy. The Hill article is well-sourced and confirmed by Defense Department statements, CBS, Military.com, and other outlets. The framing emphasizes the policy change itself but skips important context: the Pentagon's own mental health data (released the same week) shows firearms remain the leading method of military suicide, and critics worry about unintended consequences for base security and emergency response.