Pete Hegseth’s Promotion Purge

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked the promotion of two Black and two female Army officers to one-star generals. It’s a move that’s raised more than a few eyebrows, given Hegseth’s history of butting heads with senior Army leaders.

The Backstory

Hegseth spent months trying to get Secretary Dan Driscoll and other top brass to remove the officers’ names from the promotion list, but they refused. That didn’t stop him, though. Earlier this month, Hegseth took matters into his own hands and struck the names from the list himself.
The New York Times got its hands on the story, and it’s not looking good for Hegseth. It’s not the first time he’s been accused of playing favorites, and it won’t be the last.
It’s worth noting that Hegseth’s decision is a big deal, not just because of who’s being blocked, but because it shows he’s willing to go around his own people to get what he wants. That’s not exactly the kind of leadership the Army needs right now.