The Department of War (DoW) has refuted allegations that Secretary Pete Hegseth has targeted women and Black military officers, asserting that all promotion decisions are based on merit.
In statements provided to Fox News Digital, Pentagon spokesmen affirmed that a service member's identity, including race and gender, is not a factor in promotion considerations. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell emphasized that promotions are awarded to those who have earned them, stating, "The Department will never consider the color of a service member’s skin or their gender as a factor in promotions. Under President Trump and @SecWar Hegseth, meritocracy reigns supreme at the War Department."
These remarks come in response to recent accusations made by Sen. Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain and member of the Armed Services Committee. Kelly, in an interview on "Next Question with Katie Couric," alleged that Hegseth had removed officers, including former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. CQ Brown and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, based on their race and gender. Kelly suggested these actions could lead to a loss of experienced leaders, stating, "We’re losing a generation of leaders, because there will be women and Black people that’ll say, ‘Well, I don’t feel like I have opportunity here anymore. I’m just going to leave mid-career instead of staying.’ So, we’ll lose some of our best people."
Kelly specifically pointed to the dismissal of Gen. Brown, who was fired by President Donald Trump shortly after taking office in 2025, and the removal of Adm. Franchetti, the first woman to serve as chief of naval operations. The senator claimed these personnel changes deprive the military of experienced leadership.
Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez also rejected the premise of discriminatory personnel decisions. In a statement on X, Valdez said, "Here’s the bottom line: anyone who has an issue with merit-based promotions should reconsider their values. Promotions based solely on race and gender is wrong."
Secretary Hegseth has consistently advocated for a promotion system based on performance rather than identity. During an address to senior military leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in September, he described advancement based on immutable characteristics or quotas as a form of poor leadership.
President Trump dismissed Gen. Brown in February 2025, appointing retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan "Razin" Caine as his replacement. Secretary Hegseth also initiated a broader Pentagon leadership review, requesting nominees for several key positions, including the Air Force Vice Chair of Staff and the judge advocate generals of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The department has not publicly disclosed the specific rationale for these personnel changes.