US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blocked the promotion of nine Air Force colonels and delayed advancement for at least two dozen other senior officers, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
The report on Wednesday said the decisions were part of a wider review affecting senior ranks across the Air Force, Army and Navy, with some promotions reportedly paused or overturned.
Hegseth has argued that the US military must prioritise merit-based advancement and eliminate what he has described as “woke” policies linked to diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.
Since taking office, he has also removed or sidelined more than 20 senior officers, including high-profile figures in the Army and Navy.
Pentagon officials, however, insist that all promotions are based strictly on merit and deny that race or gender plays any role in personnel decisions.
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