War Department Denies Allegations of Bias in Military Promotions

The Department of War refuted claims from Senator Mark Kelly, asserting that War Secretary Pete Hegseth had discriminated against women and Black officers in the military due to their identities. The department emphasized that promotions are merit-based, not influenced by race or gender.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated, “Military promotions are given to those who have earned them. The department will never consider the color of a service member’s skin or their gender as a factor in promotions.”

Sen. Kelly accused Hegseth of removing Gen. CQ Brown due to race and cited the removal of Adm. Lisa Franchetti as evidence of discrimination. He expressed concern that such actions could lead to experienced leaders exiting the military.

Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez supported the merit-based promotion process, stating that decisions were not discriminatory. He stressed the importance of aligning values with fair, merit-based promotions.

Recently, Gen. Dan Caine replaced Brown, and nominations have been sought to replace Franchetti and other leaders. Pentagon officials denied targeting women and minorities. Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed performance as the key criterion for promotions, criticizing identity-based advancements as harmful leadership.

Michael Lee from Fox News Digital contributed to this report.