Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly blocked the promotions of at least seven officers, including two female and two Black officers, to the Navy’s one-star admirals list, according to multiple reports.
Women account for 21% of active-duty Navy, and people of color account for 38%. However, of the 22 nominees up for promotion, just two non-white officers made the list, and none were women, The New York Times reported on Monday.
Although senior Navy admirals make the promotion recommendations, Hegseth has repeatedly blocked some of them for what seems to be political motivations. In a similar move in March, Hegseth blocked two Black army officers and two women army officers from being promoted to one-star generals. The promotion list of about three dozen people ended up being largely white men.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Hegseth was also responsible for firing or blocking the promotions of at least two dozen admirals and generals.
In addition, Hegseth has been trying to promote Capt. William Francis Jr., a Navy SEAL who serves as his special military assistant. The WSJ reported that Francis has repeatedly been passed over by previous promotion boards.
Hegseth has long railed against diversity, equity and inclusion in society and has openly stated that he believes women should not be allowed to serve in combat roles (though he has recently softened his tune on the latter). Also, he has called for following a “warrior ethos” instead of what he described as “woke garbage” in the military.
Hegseth’s words and actions show a pattern of him intentionally ruling out the promotions of minority and female officers who may not align with his far-right ideals, while also seeking to install his close allies, who may prove more likely to be loyal and subservient.
The Pentagon has denied the allegation.
“As we’ve said before, military promotions are given to those who have earned them. The Department will never consider the color of a service member’s skin or their gender as a factor in promotions. Under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, meritocracy reigns supreme at the War Department,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told JS.
In April, Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned that Hegseth was damaging the military’s merit-based system.
“This intervention would run counter to the law, longstanding practice, and tradition that accessions and promotions within the military services be based on ‘individual merit and demonstrated performance,’” Reed told NBC News.
The Navy declined JS’s request for comment.