Key facts
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed at least six Army officers from a promotion list to two-star generals.
- This action follows Hegseth's prior blocking of four other Army officers' promotions to one-star rank.
- Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll resigned due to clashes with Hegseth over leadership and promotions.
- Hegseth has been consolidating power within the Pentagon, impacting senior military appointments.
- Lawmakers have expressed concern over Hegseth's actions and their potential impact on military meritocracy and readiness.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed at least six Army officers from a list for promotions to two-star generals, a move that follows his prior blocking of four other officers' ascensions to one-star rank. These actions come just days after Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll resigned amid significant clashes with Hegseth over leadership and promotion decisions within the Pentagon.
Hegseth's office has not commented on the latest removals. The officers whose promotions were blocked reportedly included logisticians responsible for supply and maintenance. Some of the previously blocked officers had links to former Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, whom Hegseth ousted earlier this year, and Gen. Chris Donahue. Hegseth has stated that officers serve at the pleasure of the president and that he will make necessary removals for the right leadership.
Driscoll's resignation, effective Monday, signals Hegseth's intent to impose his will on the Army. Driscoll's tenure focused on modernization, living conditions, and drone warfare. Hegseth and his allies maintain that promotion decisions are not based on gender or race. However, these moves have unnerved Democrats and some Republicans in Congress, with concerns raised about the impact on military meritocracy and readiness. Senators Cory Booker and Brian Schatz have called for a Pentagon Inspector General investigation into Hegseth's promotion blocks, citing potential interference with merit-based vetting processes.