The Military Meritocracy Is Under Attack
The recent removal of Navy and Air Force officers from promotion lists by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has raised concerns about the integrity of the military promotion system. These actions, which disproportionately affect black and female officers, suggest a troubling trend where political considerations may override professional merit. Trust in the military's ability to select competent leaders is at stake as the promotion process, designed to be insulated from politics, faces unprecedented scrutiny.
- ▪Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth removed nine Navy officers from a promotion list after they had already been selected.
- ▪He also blocked nine Air Force officers for promotion and delayed dozens more.
- ▪The removals have raised concerns about the impact of political decisions on the military's promotion system.
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The Military Meritocracy Is Under AttackWhen politics trumps professionalism, trust breaks down.Mark HertlingJun 03, 2026Share(Photo illustration by The Bulwark / Photos: Getty, Shutterstock)SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH removed nine Navy officers from a promotion list after they had already been selected by a board of senior admirals, according to a New York Times report, and on Tuesday the Wall Street Journal reported that he blocked nine Air Force officers for promotion and delayed dozens more. These reports follow an earlier controversy involving four Army officers who were reportedly removed from a list of colonels selected for promotion to brigadier general over the objection of both the Army’s then–chief of staff, Gen.
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