The Department of War (DOW) has denied allegations from Sen. Mark Kelly that War Secretary Pete Hegseth unfairly targeted women and Black military officers due to their identities. This response came after Kelly’s interview on “Next Question with Katie Couric.” The department emphasized that military promotions are merit-based.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell reiterated the commitment to fair promotions. “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,” Parnell stated.
Kelly, a retired Navy captain and member of the Armed Services Committee, has accused Hegseth of removing key military leaders because of their race or gender. He claimed that these actions could deter talented individuals from pursuing military careers.
Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez dismissed the notion that personnel decisions were discriminatory. “Here’s the bottom line: anyone who has an issue with merit-based promotions should reconsider their values,” Valdez declared.
The removal of former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. CQ Brown and Adm. Lisa Franchetti sparked controversy, with some questioning if these decisions were identity-based. However, Pentagon officials strongly denied these claims.
Secretary Hegseth has consistently advocated for performance-based promotions, calling identity-based advancement “toxic leadership.” He maintains that leadership roles should reflect individual merit.