WASHINGTON, United States — Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has intervened in the promotion process for senior military officers, blocking or delaying the advancement of more than a dozen candidates across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, according to nine U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
The actions have raised concern within the military and the White House, where some officials fear that decisions affecting high-ranking officers may be influenced by race, gender or perceived political alignment, rather than the longstanding merit-based system that governs military promotions.
Concerns Over Merit-Based System
Under normal procedure, each branch of the armed forces convenes independent promotion boards to evaluate officers based on performance, leadership and service record.
Those recommendations move through the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the defence secretary’s office and the White House before being submitted to the Senate for confirmation.
Officials say Mr Hegseth’s involvement has disrupted that process in unusual ways.
“There is not a single service that has been immune to this level of involvement,” one U.S. official said.
Several officials said the concerns centre particularly on officers who are women or members of racial minority groups, as well as those associated with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives introduced during the administration of Joe Biden.
Allegations of Political and Ideological Screening
Officials also pointed to other factors that may be influencing promotion decisions, including officers’ support for pandemic-era policies such as vaccine mandates, or perceived ties to former Joint Chiefs chairman Mark Milley.
Some officials expressed concern that such considerations fall outside the traditional standards of merit and performance.
“I think there is not consistency being applied to the standards,” one official said.
Leadership Shake-Up Raises Questions
The controversy intensified this week after Mr Hegseth removed the Army chief of staff, Randy George, whose term had been expected to run until 2027.
According to officials, General George had sought a meeting with Mr Hegseth to discuss concerns about stalled promotions affecting certain officers, but the defence secretary declined to engage.
Promotion Delays Across Military Branches
Across multiple branches, officials described a pattern of delayed or blocked advancement decisions.
In the Marine Corps, three officers, including two women and a Black man, were prevented from moving into new roles despite strong recommendations and no record of disciplinary concerns.
In the Navy, a list of candidates for promotion to one-star admiral has remained under review for more than a month, an unusually long delay.
Air Force officials said some candidates had been removed from promotion lists at the direction of the defence secretary’s office, while in the Army, four officers, two women and two Black officers, were struck from a list before it advanced to the Senate.
In several cases, officials said no formal explanation was provided, and none of the affected officers were known to be under investigation or facing allegations that would typically justify removal from consideration.
Pentagon Denies Allegations
Pentagon officials strongly rejected the characterisation of the process. In a statement issued after the report was published, the department said the allegations were unfounded.
“This story is full of fake news from anonymous sources who have no idea what they’re talking about,” said Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman.
He added that under Mr Hegseth, promotions are awarded strictly on merit and remain “apolitical and unbiased.”
The White House did not respond to requests for comment.
Lawmakers Voice Concern
The dispute has drawn criticism from lawmakers, including Jack Reed, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who said the reported actions would undermine the integrity of the military’s promotion system.
He described any deviation from merit-based advancement as a violation of longstanding norms and legal standards governing military personnel decisions.
Broader Implications for Military Trust
By law, the president retains ultimate authority over military promotions, with the Senate providing final approval. Defence secretaries typically do not remove names from promotion lists unless there are clear concerns such as misconduct or ongoing investigations.
Officials familiar with the current situation said those conditions did not apply in the cases under dispute.
A retired senior military officer said that even the perception of political interference could have lasting consequences, warning that the promotion system depends heavily on trust.
“If that confidence is eroded,” the officer said, “it changes how people serve, how they lead and how they plan their futures.”
The episode comes amid a broader effort by Mr Hegseth and the Trump administration to roll back diversity initiatives within the military.
Defence Department data shows that the officer corps remains predominantly male and white, with Black officers accounting for about 9 percent.
For now, officials say the uncertainty surrounding promotions is already being felt across the ranks, as officers await decisions that could shape the trajectory of their careers.
