Defense Secretary blocks Navy one-star promotions, no women

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked the promotions of at least seven Navy officers to the rank of one-star admiral, a move that has disproportionately affected female and minority officers. The decision, which officials described as highly unusual, has resulted in a final list of 22 nominees that includes no women and only two non-white officers, despite women comprising about 21 percent of the active-duty Navy and racial minorities making up about 38 percent.

According to four current and former defense officials who spoke anonymously, Hegseth’s actions appear to violate the rules governing a promotion system designed to be apolitical and merit-based. Pentagon regulations stipulate that a defense secretary may only remove officers from such lists for specific moral, mental, physical, or professional failings that raise questions about an officer’s fitness to lead. The officials said the officers were apparently targeted because they participated in diversity-related events years or even decades earlier.

In response to inquiries, Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell stated that military promotions are given to those who have earned them and that the department does not...