The Department of War (DoW) rejected Senator Mark Kelly's allegations that War Secretary Pete Hegseth targeted women and Black military officers based on their identities. In a statement to Fox News Digital, the department emphasized that military promotions are determined by merit, not race or gender. Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell stated that identity will not influence promotion decisions, asserting that meritocracy is upheld at the War Department under Secretary Hegseth. Kelly, a retired Navy captain, accused Hegseth of removing certain officers, including former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. CQ Brown and Adm. Lisa Franchetti, due to their race and gender. He expressed concern that such personnel changes could lead to a loss of experienced leaders in the military. Acting Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez also refuted claims of discriminatory practices in personnel decisions, stating that promotions based solely on identity are inappropriate. The Pentagon did not disclose specific reasons for the recent removals but maintained that promotions should be based on performance rather than identity.
✓ No loaded language, vague sourcing, or framing detected.
Pentagon Responds to Senator Mark Kelly's Allegations of Discrimination in Military Promotions
The Pentagon has denied allegations from Senator Mark Kelly that military promotions are biased against women and Black officers. The department emphasized that promotions are based on merit, with officials asserting that identity does not play a role in decision-making. Kelly's accusations included claims of discriminatory removals of high-ranking officers.
No note attached
on this article.
Original vs. Neutral
Pentagon fires back after Mark Kelly accuses Pete Hegseth of targeting women and Black military officers
Pentagon Responds to Senator Mark Kelly's Allegations of Discrimination in Military Promotions