Defense Secretary Hegseth Blocks Promotions of Female and Minority Navy Officers
Hegseth blocked female, minority Navy officers from promotion - report
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U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reportedly blocked the promotion of nine Navy officers, including three women and two Black men, to one-star admiral. This action, deemed unusual by defense officials, raises concerns about merit-based promotion practices in the military.
- 01Nine Navy officers, including three women and two Black men, were removed from the promotion list to one-star admiral by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
- 02The promotion system is intended to be merit-based and apolitical, yet Hegseth's actions are seen as highly unusual by officials.
- 03Pentagon rules state that officers can only be removed from promotion lists for mental, moral, or professional failings.
- 04None of the remaining 22 one-star admiral nominees are women, despite women comprising over 20% of active-duty Navy personnel.
- 05Hegseth reportedly sought to promote his special assistant, Navy SEAL Capt. William Francis Jr., who lacked the necessary experience for the rank.
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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.
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