NYT: Hegseth removes female, black officers from navy promotion list

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked the promotion of several senior Navy officers to one-star admiral, marking a rare intervention in military advancement lists and extending his direct involvement in senior personnel decisions, The New York Times reports.

According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, the officers had already been selected by a board of senior Navy admirals before their names were removed from the final promotion list.

The officers affected reportedly included African Americans, women, and white males, with sources saying their removal was linked to a range of factors, including involvement in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

The Pentagon released the official promotion list on May 22, but the final composition differed after Hegseth’s intervention. Secretaries of Defence hold the authority to review and block promotions for cause, but such direct reversals of service-level recommendations are uncommon.

The move follows similar action in the Army, where Hegseth intervened in a recent brigadier general promotion list, removing four colonels selected for advancement. That case also involved officers from diverse backgrounds, according to officials familiar with the process.

Separately, sources said Hegseth also attempted to secure a promotion for a senior aide, Navy SEAL Captain William Francis Jr., who serves as his assistant. However, Francis was not eligible for review by the promotion board because he did not meet key criteria, including commanding a major unit, officials said.

Hegseth’s tenure as Defence Secretary has been defined by a broader effort to reshape military culture and eliminate policies he has criticised as promoting a “woke” agenda within the armed forces. His approach has coincided with heightened debate over diversity initiatives in the military, as well as ongoing demographic shifts in recruitment and leadership ranks.

The Pentagon has defended the promotion process, stating that selections are based strictly on merit and performance. Spokesman Sean Parnell said the department “will never consider the colour of a service member’s skin or their gender as a factor in promotions” and emphasised that “meritocracy reigns supreme” under the current leadership.

Since Hegseth assumed office, at least 19 senior generals and flag officers have been dismissed or sidelined, several of them women or minorities, according to defence officials. The latest intervention underscores growing tensions between civilian leadership and the military establishment over promotion standards and personnel policy.

By Aghakazim Guliyev