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War & Conflict1h 41m ago

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked the promotions of at least 40 senior officers to general and admiral ranks, with about half being women or members of minority groups, following a secret vetting process.

Washington

Who
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Rear Adm. Stephen D. Barnett, Vice Adm. Sara Joyner, at least 40 senior officers
What
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked the promotions of at least 40 senior officers to general and admiral ranks, with about half being women or members of minority groups, following a secret vetting process.
When
Fri, 19 Jun 2026 17:09:13 GMT · 1h 41m ago
Where
Washington ·
Why
Hegseth believes Pentagon diversity initiatives elevated unqualified officers and aims to install a 'ruthlessly meritocratic' promotion system, leading to the targeting of officers who supported diversity or COVID vaccine advocacy.
The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

The actions have halted the advancement of senior officers, disproportionately affecting women and minority officers, and have led to internal pushback from military leadership and potential legislative action.

Story chain

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