Fri 03 April 2026:

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed, forced into retirement or blocked the promotions of more than a dozen senior US military officers across multiple branches of the armed forces, in a sweeping leadership overhaul amid the ongoing war on Iran.

The changes have affected some of the military’s most senior leaders, including combat-tested commanders with decades of operational experience in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Gulf War and other major US military operations.

Nine US officials told NBC News that some officers appeared to be targeted based on their race, gender, or perceived alignment with policies of former President Joe Biden’s administration.

Steps were reportedly taken to block or delay promotions for more than a dozen Black and female senior officers across all four military branches.

“There is not a single service that has been immune to this level of involvement by Hegseth,” one US official told NBC News.

A retired senior military officer added that such intervention without explanation “will certainly cast a shadow across our officer corps,” fueling concerns inside both the Pentagon and the White House about political influence in military leadership decisions.

Promotions blocked

NBC News reported that Hegseth has taken steps to block or delay promotions for more than a dozen Black and female officers across the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.

Officials told NBC News that three Marine officers, including two women and one Black officer, were blocked from promotion despite being recommended by leadership and not being under investigation.

“They have all deployed and done their jobs, and all are combat-tested,” one US official told NBC News.

Officials also said a list of Navy officers selected for promotion to one-star admiral remained stalled on Hegseth’s desk for more than a month, while some Air Force officers were removed from promotion lists.

Officials told NBC News that some officers were scrutinized for ties to diversity, equity and inclusion programs, support for COVID-19 mandates, or perceived alignment with policies under the Biden administration.

“I think there is no consistency being applied to the standards,” one US official told NBC News.

A retired senior military officer warned that political interference could undermine confidence in the system.

“Our officer corps trusts our promotion process,” the retired officer said.

“Intervention without explanation will certainly cast a shadow across our officer corps that everything they have said, done and written about during their careers could be politicized in a career-ending manner with the stroke of a pen.”