Hegseth Denied Blocking Navy Officers, Pentagon Fires Back

A new report claims Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked promotions for at least seven US Navy officers, including two women and two Black men, and also removed three white male officers. The Pentagon rejects the allegation, saying promotions are based on me

For at least seven US Navy officers, the path to advancement reportedly hit a wall—after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stepped in, according to a report published Monday.

The claim. published by the New York Times. says Hegseth allegedly blocked the promotions of officers who were under consideration for advancement. Among those reportedly removed from the promotion list were two women and two Black men. The report also says three white male officers were taken off the list as well.

The demographics behind the final selections are where the controversy has intensified. Even though women make up roughly one-fifth of the active-duty Navy. the report says no female officers appeared on the most recent promotion list released in May. It further claims that only two non-white officers were included. despite racial minorities accounting for a substantially larger share of Navy personnel.

The Pentagon’s response was swift and pointed. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell blasted the report and rejected any suggestion that race or gender played a role in promotion decisions. In a statement posted on X (Twitter). Parnell said. “They continue 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.”.

He followed that message with a direct line on policy: “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.” He reiterated the same point in comments to the New York Times. saying again that promotions are given to those who have earned them and that the Department will never consider skin color or gender.

For critics. the new allegations land on top of earlier questions about how promotions have been handled during Hegseth’s leadership. Earlier this year. NBC News reported that promotions across multiple military branches were allegedly delayed or blocked due to concerns tied to race. gender. or perceived connections to policies from the previous Joe Biden administration. One official reportedly told NBC News that no branch of the military had been untouched by that level of involvement.

The concerns aren’t limited to the Navy, either. Back in March, the New York Times reported that promotions involving two female US Army officers and two Black Army officers were blocked from advancing to one-star general positions.

Lawmakers have been weighing in as the dispute between narratives grows louder. Democratic Rep. Adam Smith. ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee. accused Hegseth of turning personnel decisions into part of a broader culture war inside the Department of Defense. Smith argued that experienced military leaders have been pushed aside and warned that the resulting turmoil could damage morale. stability. and confidence across the armed forces.

As the debate continues. the numbers at the center of the dispute remain the focal point: supporters of the Pentagon’s stance say promotions are based on merit and qualifications. while critics say the distribution of the most recent promotion list raises legitimate concerns. For now, the Pentagon is standing by its denial—and critics are pressing for answers.

Pete Hegseth US Navy promotions Pentagon Sean Parnell military meritocracy race and gender Adam Smith New York Times report NBC News report X Twitter statement