According to a report by the New York Times, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth blocked the promotion of nine Navy officers, which included three women and two Black men, to the rank of one-star admiral. These officers had already been selected for promotion by a board of senior admirals, making Hegseth's intervention particularly controversial. Multiple defense officials noted that the promotion system is designed to be merit-based and apolitical, and Hegseth's actions have raised concerns about this integrity. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell emphasized that promotions should reflect merit, not race or gender. The report highlighted that none of the remaining 22 nominees for one-star admiral are women, despite women making up over 20% of active-duty Navy personnel. Furthermore, racial minorities, who constitute about 38% of active-duty personnel, are also underrepresented in the nominations. Some of the blocked officers had participated in diversity-related events, suggesting that their removal may have been influenced by their advocacy for inclusion. Hegseth also reportedly pushed for the promotion of his assistant, Capt. William Francis Jr., who was not selected due to insufficient experience.