Pete Hegseth has reportedly blocked the promotions of several Black and female Navy officers. The Pentagon has denied claims that racial or gender bias has influenced the alleged decision, and called the reports “race-baiting garbage.”
Pete Hegseth reportedly blocks promotion for female navy officers
According to a Monday, June 1, New York Times report, Pete Hegseth blocked seven Navy officers. They include two women and two Black men from receiving promotions. The other three officers in the list were reportedly White men. The outlet also reported that four current and former defense officials have described Hegseth’s alleged actions as “highly unusual.”
Shortly after the report was published, Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell dismissed the claims in a statement on X. “More race-baiting garbage from the Failing New York Times and its radical left reporters,” Parnell fumed.
He continued, “They continue to push this worn-out narrative.” It is because “they view almost everything through the lens of race and gender over merit. As we’ve said before, military promotions are earned. The Department will never consider the color of a service member’s skin or their gender as a factor in promotions.”
Parnell concluded, declaring, “Under President Trump and @SecWar Hegseth, meritocracy reigns supreme at the War Department.” Speaking with The New York Times, Parnell emphasized, “Military promotions are given to those who have earned them.” He added, “The department will never consider the color of a service member’s skin or their gender as a factor in promotions.”
The NYT report comes just a couple of months after NBC News reported that Hegseth had blocked or delayed the promotion of throughout the military. As per nine U.S. officials, the Defense Secretary’s decision was allegedly based on people’s “race, gender, or perceived affiliation with [former President Joe] Biden administration policies or officials.” One of the U.S. officials further added, “There is not a single service that has been immune to this level of involvement by Hegseth.”
