U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly blocked the promotion of at least seven Navy officers recommended for promotion by senior military selection boards, a move that has reignited debate over diversity policies and personnel decisions within the U.S. armed forces.
According to reports citing current and former defense officials familiar with the matter, the officers were removed from a promotion list that would have elevated them to the rank of one-star admiral. The final list of 22 nominees released by the Pentagon in May reportedly included no women and only two officers from minority backgrounds.
The development marks the latest in a series of personnel decisions that have drawn scrutiny during President Donald Trump’s administration. Defense officials said those removed from the list included two women, two Black men, and three white men.
Under longstanding Pentagon practices, senior military promotion boards are generally responsible for recommending officers for advancement, with intervention by the defense secretary typically reserved for cases involving misconduct, legal concerns, or questions about an officer’s fitness for service.
The reported removals follow similar actions earlier this year, when several Army colonels were reportedly taken off a promotion list for brigadier general. Critics have argued that some of the affected officers were linked to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives during their military careers.
One of the officers reportedly removed had previously served in a diversity-related recruitment and retention role earlier in her career, according to defense officials cited in media reports.
Before becoming defense secretary, Hegseth frequently criticized DEI programs within the military, arguing that the armed forces should focus primarily on combat readiness and operational effectiveness. Since assuming office, he has overseen significant changes within the Pentagon’s senior leadership structure, including the departures of several high-ranking military officials.
The reported promotion decisions have drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers. Senator Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has previously warned that personnel decisions based on race or gender rather than merit could undermine confidence in the military’s promotion system.
Reed also expressed concerns that recent dismissals and promotion blocks could negatively affect morale and perceptions of fairness within the armed forces.
The Pentagon has denied allegations that race or gender played any role in the decisions. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended the administration’s approach, stating that promotions are based solely on merit and performance.
“Military promotions are given to those who have earned them,” Parnell said, adding that the department does not consider race or gender when making promotion decisions.
Supporters of the administration argue that the measures are intended to strengthen military effectiveness by emphasizing merit-based advancement and reducing the influence of DEI programs. However, some retired military leaders have cautioned that overriding recommendations from professional promotion boards could raise concerns about the independence of the military promotion process and potentially affect recruitment and retention efforts.
The controversy is expected to remain a point of debate in Washington as lawmakers continue oversight of Pentagon personnel policies and the broader direction of military leadership under the current administration.
