The NAACP, the National Women’s Law Center and dozens of other organizations are calling out Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s personal intervention to block the promotions of Black people and women in the military.
In a letter sent to Hegseth earlier this month and released to MS NOW on Monday, the 33 groups noted that reporting on Hegseth’s “unprecedented interference corresponds with a drop in the percentage of women nominated for high-ranking promotions, which is now at its lowest level in over two decades, and many qualified Black candidates have seen their opportunities blocked.”
Hegseth, who for years has derided “diversity hires” and made disparaging comments about women in combat, has ignored demands from congressional Democrats that he explain his involvement in the promotions process, which his predecessors have largely left alone.
“We call on you to comply with congressional requests for oversight,” the organizations wrote in their letter. “The American public deserves to know whether their Secretary of Defense is making decisions in compliance with our laws and based on the skills and experiences of our service members or if his decisions are driven by racial and gender stereotypes.”
Pentagon spokeswoman Kingsley Wilson disputed that assertion in a statement to MS NOW.
“MSNOW (who recently changed their name from MSNBC due to lack of viewership and credibility) is now joining other fake news outlets in pushing the hoax that Secretary Hegseth is basing promotion decisions on race and sex,” Wilson said. “This is a lie, and we have said so repeatedly.”
Other groups signing on to the letter sent to Hegseth on Sept. 16 include the ACLU and the National Action Network, which is led by the Rev. Al Sharpton, an MS NOW contributor.
The groups cited reporting that Hegseth has intervened to block promotions for “at least 40 senior officers — approximately half of whom were women or people of color.”
The letter breaks down that figure branch by military branch to underscore what the groups call “a grave abuse of power at the expense of women and officers of color.”
When it comes to the highest ranks — appointing three- and four-star admirals and generals — the groups conceded Hegseth has more discretion.
But they accused him of targeting women and Black leaders at those levels, “including failing to advance the promotions of Admiral Sara Joyner and Rear Admiral Stephen D. Barnett, both of whom received exemplary recommendations but who had actively recruited women and people of color, respectively, to serve.”
Adam Hudacek contributed reporting.
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