Washington: United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is facing serious allegations of blocking or delaying the promotions of more than a dozen women and Black senior military officers.
According to reports by a US broadcaster citing sources, concerns have been raised that the defense chief targeted certain officers based on race, gender, or perceived links to the Biden administration, affecting their advancement to the ranks of general or admiral.
A US official claimed that former Chief of Staff General Randy had sought a meeting with Hegseth before his removal to discuss the issue of halted promotions for women and Black officers, but the request was declined.
Another official alleged that no branch of the US military remained unaffected by Hegseth’s intervention.
However, the US Department of Defense has strongly rejected the claims, labeling the report as “fake news” based on anonymous sources and asserting that the allegations lack credibility.