US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed nine navy officers, including women and Black service members, from a promotion list. The move has resulted in an all-male, overwhelmingly white slate of 22 nominees to become one-star admirals.
Hegseth's intervention has been criticized for violating promotion rules designed to be merit-based and apolitical. The original promotion list included three women and two Black officers, but Hegseth removed them without explanation.
The Pentagon has disputed that Hegseth blocked promotions based on race or gender, stating that military promotions are given to those who have earned them. However, the move has raised concerns about the Trump administration's push to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion in the military.
