started · updated
Pete Hegseth implements major changes to U.S. military command
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is implementing significant changes within the U.S. military command. According to analysis by the New York Times, Hegseth has fired or blocked the promotions of more than 80 generals and admirals, which constitutes approximately 10% of the military’s highest-ranking officers. This includes the recent blocking of seven Army officers selected for major general, two of whom are women and two of whom are Black.
The shift in leadership has also impacted diversity in senior roles. For the 2026 nominations, only eight of 201 officers nominated for senior posts were women, marking the lowest share in at least 25 years.
In a separate effort to address internal security, approximately 50 military personnel, including members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underwent polygraph examinations. The tests were conducted to identify a potential leaker who disclosed information regarding missile rationing caused by shortages linked to the war in Iran. While former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper noted the unprecedented scale of these tests, reports indicate that no one failed the examinations.
Entities
Christopher T. Donahue · Department of War · Donald Trump · Mark Esper · Pentagon · Pete Hegseth · Thom Tillis
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Pete Hegseth has fired or blocked the promotion of more than 80 generals and admirals, representing approximately 10% of the military’s highest-ranking officers. www.struggle-la-lucha.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 50 military personnel, including members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underwent polygraph tests to identify a leaker, and no one failed the tests. www.elespectador.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Former Secretary of Defense Mark Esper described the large-scale use of polygraph tests for this purpose as unprecedented. www.elespectador.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Of 201 officers nominated for senior military posts in 2026, only eight were women, the lowest share in at least 25 years. www.struggle-la-lucha.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Hegseth blocked the promotions of seven U.S. Army officers selected for major general, including two Black officers and two women. www.struggle-la-lucha.org
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The polygraph tests aimed to identify if personnel leaked information regarding missile rationing caused by shortages related to the war in Iran. www.elespectador.com