US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked the promotion of nine Air Force colonels and delayed advancement for at least two dozen other senior officers, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The report on Wednesday said the decisions were part of a wider review affecting senior ranks across the Air Force, Army and Navy, with some promotions reportedly paused or overturned.
Hegseth has argued that the US military must prioritise merit-based advancement and eliminate what he has described as “woke” policies linked to diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.
Since taking office, he has also removed or sidelined more than 20 senior officers, including high-profile figures in the Army and Navy.
Pentagon officials, however, insist that all promotions are based strictly on merit and deny that race or gender plays any role in personnel decisions.
Debate over military leadership standards intensifies
The moves have reignited debate in Washington over how senior military leaders are selected and whether recent changes reflect a shift in institutional priorities.
Under US law, only the president can formally remove a name from a promotion list, though the defence secretary can recommend changes through official channels.
According to the report, it remained unclear whether proper procedures were followed in all the cases.
