Hegseth removes at least six US Army officers from promotion list — The Hill
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has removed at least six US Army officers from the list of candidates for promotion to the rank of two-star general. A source familiar with the matter told The Hill on condition of anonymity. Hegseth’s office did not immediately respond to the outlet’s request for comment.
Previously blocked promotions
The new removals came several days after the Pentagon chief blocked the promotions of four US Army officers selected for one-star general rank. Some of them were associated with former US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, whom Hegseth removed from his post in early April, as well as with Gen. Chris Donahue, the former commander of US Army Europe and Africa, who retired in the summer.
Earlier this year, Hegseth also removed four officers — two women and two Black men — from the list for promotion to one-star general rank. The decision caused dissatisfaction among Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and other senior officials. On Monday, Driscoll submitted his resignation to the White House. According to The Hill, he will leave Donald Trump’s administration after a months-long conflict with Hegseth.
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Reaction in Congress
Hegseth and his allies have said that the US Department of Defense does not take service members’ gender or skin color into account when making promotion decisions. At the same time, Hegseth has blocked the advancement of US Navy and Air Force officers. Former military leaders called such moves unnecessary and harmful to the respective branches of the armed forces.
The recommendations of selection boards require the defense secretary’s approval, but the US president has the authority to remove officers’ names from the lists. In April, Hegseth told Congress that officers serve at the president’s discretion and that he would make decisions on their removal if he considered it necessary for proper leadership in the military.
According to NBC News, some of the officers on the list for two-star ranks were logistics specialists responsible for supply and maintenance. The New York Times reported that Hegseth targeted seven officers, including two Black people and two women. In July, Democratic senators Cory Booker and Brian Schatz demanded an independent investigation by the Pentagon inspector general into the blocking of promotions. They said Hegseth may have been guided by personal views and perceptions of race and gender when intervening in the selection process.
