Warren accuses Pentagon of blocking women, minorities from promotions

Senator Elizabeth Warren accused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of blocking women and minority officers from military promotions during a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel markup Tuesday, alleging political interference in the selection of senior military leaders.

Warren said the Navy's latest list of 22 one-star admiral promotions included no women. "Reporting indicates that the last time the Navy promoted a woman to a one-star role was last June," Warren said during the June 9, 2026 markup. "And Secretary Hegseth reportedly removed the nominations of two women and two Black men from the original promotion list."

The Massachusetts senator also said Hegseth blocked the appointment of nine Air Force colonels. "He has also reportedly delayed the promotion of at least 2 dozen senior Air Force officers, quote, while the Pentagon reviews their ties to diversity, equity, and inclusion policies," Warren said.

Warren called Hegseth's actions unprecedented intervention in military promotions. "This politicization will create lasting damage to our military and lasting damage to our country," she said. Warren also criticized the Trump administration more broadly, saying President Trump and Secretary Hegseth were "risking the life of service members in an illegal war with Iran while making life more difficult for troops and their families back home." She referenced a reported White House event where President Trump recruited hundreds of troops to watch a UFC cage fighting event.

Senior officer promotions help determine leadership for forces across the military, including Alaska-based units. Defense Department Arctic and Indo-Pacific strategy documents highlight Alaska's strategic role in power projection, missile defense, and Arctic operations.

Department of Defense policy assigns the Secretary of Defense a central role in overseeing promotion processes for general and flag officers across all services. Federal law requires promotion selection boards to recommend officers for advancement under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, with final approval by the Secretary of Defense and the President and confirmation by the Senate.

Allegations that senior Pentagon leaders are targeting officers for adverse promotion decisions because of their involvement with diversity policies raise potential conflicts with federal equal employment opportunity and military anti-discrimination laws.

The subcommittee, chaired by Senator Tommy Tuberville, advanced its recommendations on the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act. The markup included provisions on military compensation, healthcare, workforce management, child care, TRICARE pharmacy oversight, and traumatic brain injury treatment. Warren criticized the Trump administration for failing to include pay raises for civilian employees in its budget request.