Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Reportedly Intervenes in Army Officer Promotions; Pentagon Denies Claims

Allegations Emerge of Defense Secretary Hegseth Blocking Military Promotions

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly facing allegations of intervening to block the military promotions of four Army officers—two women and two Black men—who were candidates for one-star general positions.

The allegations, initially reported by the New York Times and corroborated by unnamed U.S. officials, claim Secretary Hegseth took action after Army leaders reportedly declined his requests to remove the officers' names from the promotion list.

Pentagon spokespersons have strongly denied these reports, labeling them "fake news" and "completely false."

Allegations of Promotion Interference

Reports indicate that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attempted to halt the promotion of four officers to the rank of one-star general. These officers were specifically identified as two women and two Black men. According to U.S. officials not authorized to speak publicly, Secretary Hegseth reportedly requested Army leaders, including Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, to remove these officers' names from the promotion list. Driscoll reportedly declined these requests, citing the officers' records, after which Hegseth is then said to have removed the names himself.

Military policy typically mandates that the defense secretary approves or rejects an entire promotion list, a measure designed to prevent politicization of the officer corps. The modified list is currently under review by the White House before being forwarded to the Senate for final approval. The names on one-star promotion lists are generally kept confidential until Senate confirmation. The remaining promotion list includes approximately three dozen officers, primarily white men, along with a few women and Black officers, according to one report.

Pentagon Strongly Denies Reports

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell described the reporting as "fake news" in a statement to NPR and via email, asserting, "Under Secretary Hegseth, military promotions are given to those who have earned them. Meritocracy, which reigns in this Department, is apolitical and unbiased." Ricky Buria, Hegseth's chief of staff, also denied the report, calling it "completely false."

Secretary Hegseth's Stated Views and Tenure

Secretary Hegseth's tenure at the Pentagon has included efforts against what he has described as a "woke" culture from previous administrations. Prior to his appointment by the Trump administration, Hegseth authored books that characterized the U.S. military as "woke" and suggested that diversity within the ranks had diminished its strength.

In September, he stated that promotions would not be based on "immutable characteristics or quotas." Last November, he commented that promotions had "for too long" been based on "race, based on gender quotas, based on historic so-called firsts."

In his 2024 book, The War on Warriors, Hegseth wrote, "The Left captured the military quickly, and we must reclaim it at a faster pace. We must wage a frontal assault. A swift counterattack in broad daylight."

Since assuming office, Hegseth has overseen a significant reorganization within the Pentagon. This reorganization included the dismissal or reassignment of several senior officers, including four-star admirals and generals. Noteworthy removals or reassignments include:

• Gen. CQ Brown, the second African American to serve as Joint Chiefs Chairman.
• Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to hold the Navy's highest uniformed position.
• Vice Admiral Yvette Davids.
• Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield from a NATO role.
• Admiral Linda Fagan as chief of naval operations.

No official explanations were provided for the dismissals of Gen. Brown and Adm. Franchetti.

Secretary Hegseth has also pledged to remove female officers from combat roles and implemented a ban on trans people serving in the military.

An instance of reported friction last summer involved Maj Gen Antoinette R Gant's selection to command the Military District of Washington. Ricky Buria reportedly communicated to Secretary Driscoll that a former President would not want to be seen with a Black female officer at military events. Driscoll reportedly disagreed with this sentiment, though Buria has denied the account of this interaction.