Defense Secretary Hegseth Blocks Promotions of Four Army Officers

Removal of two Black men and two women from promotion list draws bipartisan criticism

Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:05am

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has been criticized for blocking the promotion of four Army officers - two Black men and two women - to the rank of one-star general. The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Jack Reed, said Hegseth's intervention violated rules that promotions should be based on 'individual merit and demonstrated performance.' Military officials say the defense secretary is not supposed to intervene after a service board approves a list of colonels for promotion.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions over diversity and representation in the military's senior leadership. Hegseth has sought to reverse policies aimed at increasing opportunities for women and minorities, drawing criticism from lawmakers and veterans groups who say he is imposing a political agenda on a promotion system meant to be merit-based.

The details

Hegseth pressed senior Army leaders for months to remove the four names from a list of about three dozen officers, most of whom are white men. Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll refused, citing the officers' decades of exemplary service. Earlier this month, Hegseth unilaterally struck the four names from the list, though it's unclear if he has the legal authority to do so.

  • In March 2026, Hegseth blocked the promotion of four Army officers to one-star general.
  • Earlier this month, Hegseth removed the four names from the promotion list.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The current U.S. Secretary of Defense, appointed by former President Donald Trump.

Sen. Jack Reed

The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, who sharply criticized Hegseth's actions.

Daniel P. Driscoll

The Army Secretary who refused to remove the four officers' names from the promotion list, citing their exemplary service records.

Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández

The chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus, who condemned Hegseth's decision.

Rep. Yvette D. Clarke

The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, who also criticized Hegseth's actions.

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What they’re saying

“If these reports are accurate, Secretary Hegseth's decision to remove four decorated officers from a promotion list after having been selected by their peers for their merit and performance is not only outrageous, it would be illegal. Denying the promotions of individual officers based on their race or gender would betray every principle of merit-based service military officers uphold throughout their careers.”

— Sen. Jack Reed, Top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee

“We've long known that Pete Hegseth is an unfit and unqualified secretary of defense appointed by Trump. So it is absurd, ironic and beyond inappropriate that he of all people would deny these promotions to officers with records of exemplary service. America's service members deserve so much better.”

— Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández and Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, Chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus

“Military standards are not the issue here. This is clearly about Hegseth imposing his political and ideological agenda on the people who have actually earned their rank.”

— Jose Vasquez, Executive Director, Common Defense (left-leaning veterans organization)

What’s next

Sen. Jack Reed says he is looking into the matter to ensure the law is followed. It remains unclear whether Hegseth has the legal authority to unilaterally remove the four officers from the promotion list.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions over diversity and representation in the military's senior leadership under the Hegseth-led Pentagon. Critics say he is undermining a merit-based promotion system in order to maintain the military's traditional demographic makeup of predominantly white men.