Defense Secretary Accused of Blocking Promotion of Navy Officers on Grounds of Race and Gender
The Pentagon is denying that race or gender played a part in a recent round of promotions of at least seven Navy officers. The denial comes on the heels of a report by The New York Times detailing how U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth blocked the promotions of seven women and minority officials. Read on for a closer look at the report and how the Pentagon is pushing back on the allegations against its leader.
New York Times Report Details Hegseth Blocked Promotion of Navy Officers
A report published on Monday, June 1, in The New York Times is sparking widespread criticism of the Department of Defense (DOD). According to the report, Secretary Hegseth has blocked the recent promotion of at least seven Navy officers based on race and gender. Two women and two Black men were reportedly blocked, while three White men were also removed from the promotion list by Hegseth. Sources reported that the Navy officers removed from the promotion list had participated in military Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
The Times reported that four current and former DOD officials said that Hegseth's behavior in blocking the promotion was "highly unusual." According to the Times, women make up approximately 21% of the active Navy; however, no females were tapped for a promotion on the May list. The entire list only includes two nonwhite officers. For context, approximately 28% of the active-duty Navy is made up of individuals who identify as a racial minority.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell is pushing back on the Times report, writing in a post on X that "Military promotions are given to those who have earned them." Parnell went on to criticize the Times, calling it a "failing" media outlet that is full of "radical left reporters," echoing the persistent sentiment of President Donald Trump. The president has not made it a secret over the years that he does not agree with the reporting from the Times.
The DOD spokesperson also said that the Times report was simply "race-baiting garbage." Parnell expressed his opinion that the Times continues "to push this worn out narrative because they view almost everything through the lens of race and gender over merit. As we've said before, military promotions are given to those who have earned them. "
The official statement from the DOD said that, "The Department will never consider the color of a service member's skin or their gender as a factor in promotions....Under President Trump and @SecWar Hegseth, meritocracy reigns supreme at the War Department."
Parnell also gave an interview to The New York Times, saying that the DOD will never consider gender or skin color as a factor in determining promotions. It should be noted that Hegseth does have the authority to intervene in promotion decisions. The Pentagon released the promotion list on May 22.
New York Times Report Amplifies Similar Reporting by NBC News
The latest report out of the Times echoes similar reporting in April by NBC News. The April report cited nine U.S. officials who said that Hegseth blocked or delayed a number of promotions across all branches of the military on the basis of "race, gender or perceived affiliation with [former President Joe] Biden administration policies or officials." One of the officials interviewed told NBC News that “There is not a single service that has been immune to this level of involvement by Hegseth."
The New York Times was also the first to report in March that Hegseth led the charge to block the promotion of two female Army officers as well as two Black Army officers. All four officers were slated to be in line for a promotion to a one-star general.
In April, House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith said that "Since taking charge of the Department of Defense, we have seen Secretary Hegseth oust numerous decorated, knowledgeable, and well-respected U.S. military leaders and remove individuals from promotion lists in his ongoing culture war."
The Democrat representing the state of Washington went on to allege that Hegseth has a reputation for targeting people in DOD who appear to pose a challenge to his personal views rather than leaning on merit and competence as deciding factors for promotions and senior assignments. Smith noted that Hegseth's behavior is creating chaos within the DOD while also threatening the stability of the armed forces.
ABC News is also reporting on the issue. This news agency said that there have been 10 senior generals or flag officers who have been either sidelined or fired since Hegseth assumed the role of defense secretary. ABC News said that several of these have been women or minorities.
The latest news about Hegseth's intervention in the promotion list within the Navy is similar to the actions he took with the Army's promotion list to brigadier generals. The four colonels removed from this list included two African American and two female service members.
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