Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocks promotions and removes top European commander

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has intervened in the military promotion system, halting the advancement of several senior officers, including a disproportionate number of women and people of color, despite no clear legal authority for such action. His moves contravene Pentagon regulations that reserve promotion decisions for the service branches and their boards.

In a related step, Hegseth dismissed four‑star General Chris Donahue, the commander of U.S. Army Europe, shortly after Donahue oversaw the evacuation of U.S. and allied personnel from Kabul in August 2022. Critics argue the dismissal is politically motivated and part of a broader pattern of removing senior officers deemed ideologically incompatible with Hegseth's agenda.