Hegseth reportedly pulls officers from vetted military promotion list as White House reviews

War Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly removed several officers from a military promotion list – a move that departs from standard practice and is currently under review at the White House, a US official told Fox News Digital.

The list included candidates for dozens of leadership positions, but four were removed after being approved by a promotion committee.

The U.S. official said the officers were not under investigation or facing allegations of misconduct, and that no formal explanation of the decision had been provided to military leaders.

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Fox News Digital has learned that Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll initially refused to remove the officers from the promotion list before Hegseth ultimately stepped in to remove their names. The disagreement has drawn the attention of the White House, said an official, who is reviewing the revised promotion list before it is sent to the Senate.

War Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed several officers from a military promotion list, a move that departs from standard practice and is currently under review at the White House, a U.S. official told Fox News Digital. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Early New York Times reporting and congressional criticism focused in part on claims that some of the fired officers were women and minorities, prompting military officials to question whether they had been targeted because of their race or gender — a claim that Pentagon officials have strongly disputed.

Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell responded: “This story, like many others in the bankrupt New York Times, is full of fake news from anonymous sources who have no idea what they are talking about and who are far removed from the real decision-makers within the Pentagon. »

“Under Secretary Hegseth’s leadership, military promotions are being awarded to those who have earned them,” he continued. “The meritocracy that reigns in this department is apolitical and impartial.”

Pentagon Chief of Staff Ricky Buria added: “This is completely false. Whoever made up this story is clearly trying to sow division within our ranks and within the department and the administration. It will not work, and it will never work when this department is led by clear-eyed, mission-driven leaders, impervious to gossip from Washington.”

The Pentagon has not publicly detailed specific reasons for the reported withdrawals.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll initially refused to remove the officers from the promotion list, before Hegseth ultimately stepped in to remove their names, sources told Fox News Digital. (Cheriss May/Getty Images)

The reported move has drawn scrutiny on Capitol Hill, where high-ranking military promotions require Senate confirmation. Individual lawmakers can delay or block nominations through procedural stays.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that if the reports are accurate, removing officers after a promotion committee has already selected them based on merit and performance would be “outrageous” and potentially illegal.

Military promotions to senior ranks are typically reviewed by formal boards and approved as a group, with limited intervention at the individual level.

According to multiple reports, one of the officers removed from the list served in a logistical role during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, while another had previously written academic work examining why black service members are more likely to serve in support roles.

The U.S. official said those explanations had not been formally communicated to justify the decision.

The White House reviews promotion lists before they are sent to the Senate. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press)

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Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said: “Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth recently launched an unprecedented politicization of the military promotion process, apparently blocking the promotions of black and female officers,” Wyden said.

Wyden on Wednesday suspended the promotions of Marine Lt. Col. Vincent Noble, Col. Thomas Siverts and Marine Lt. Col. Cmdr. Thomas MacNeil, citing past war controversies and concerns over the ruling.

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The White House could not immediately be reached for comment.