Two of the officers are Black, and two are women, sources say, while the full promotion list includes roughly three dozen officers, the majority of whom are white men.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has taken the highly unusual step of blocking the promotion of four Army officers to one-star generals, prompting questions among senior military officials about whether race or gender played a role in the decision, according to the New York Times.
Two of the officers are Black, and two are women, sources say, while the full promotion list includes roughly three dozen officers, the majority of whom are white men.
The move has drawn scrutiny because it breaks with longstanding Pentagon norms and practices.
Military officials report that Hegseth had pressed senior Army leaders, including Army Secretary Daniel P. Driscoll, for months to remove the officers’ names from the promotion list. Driscoll repeatedly refused, citing the officers’ decades-long records of exemplary service.
Hegseth has repeatedly criticised Pentagon leadership under previous administrations as “foolish,” “reckless,” and “woke”.
However, some defence officials view the decision as unprecedented and potentially discriminatory.
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions at the top of the Pentagon as Hegseth asserts his authority over the military promotion process.
According to the Times reporters, Ricky Buria, Hegseth’s chief of staff, “told Mr. Driscoll that President Trump would not want to stand next to a Black female officer at military events, the officials said.”
According to the report, the journalists note that “it is exceedingly rare that a one-star list draws such intense scrutiny from a defense secretary.”
“This article is based on interviews with 11 current and former military and administration officials who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters,” according to New York Times.
“Senior officials in Mr. Hegseth’s office have been debating for months whether Mr. Hegseth has the legal authority to strike names from a one-star list before he sends it to the White House, military officials said.”