Pentagon cites ‘meritocracy’ as reported officer promotion removals draw Democratic criticism
War Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly removed multiple officers from a military promotion list — a decision that diverges from standard practice and is now under review at the White House,...
By Fox News · Fox News
War Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly removed multiple officers from a military promotion list — a decision that diverges from standard practice and is now under review at the White House, a U.S. official told Fox News Digital. The list included candidates for dozens of senior roles, but four were removed after they had been approved by a promotions board. The U.S. official said the officers were not under investigation and were not facing misconduct allegations, and that no formal explanation for the decision was provided to military leadership. PETE HEGSETH TOUTS HIGHER PHYSICAL STANDARDS FOR MILITARY, SAYS 'SO BE IT' IF IT EXCLUDES WOMEN Fox News Digital has learned that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll initially declined to remove the officers from the promotion list before Hegseth ultimately intervened to strike their names. The disagreement caught the attention of the White House, an official said, which reviews the revised promotion list before it is sent to the Senate. Initial New York Times reporting and congressional criticism have focused in part on claims that some of the officers removed were women and minorities, prompting military officials to question whether they were singled out on account of race or gender — an assertion Pentagon officials have strongly disputed. Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in response: "This story, like many others at the failing New York Times is full of fake news from anonymous sources who have no idea what they’re talking about and are far removed from actual decision-makers within the Pentagon." "Under Secretary Hegseth, military promotions are given to those who have earned them," he went on. "Meritocracy, which reigns in this department, is apolitical and unbiased." Pentagon chief of staff Ricky Buria added: "This is completely false. Whoever placed this made up story is clearly trying to sow division among our ranks and within the department and the administration. It's not going to work, and it never will wo…