War Department Rebuts Senator’s Claims of Discrimination in Military Promotions

The Department of War (DOW) refuted accusations from Senator Mark Kelly on Thursday, suggesting that War Secretary Pete Hegseth discriminated against women and Black military officers. The department directly responded to Kelly’s remarks made during an interview on ‘Next Question with Katie Couric.’ According to statements from Pentagon spokesmen, military promotions are determined by merit, disregarding race and gender criteria.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell emphasized that the department bases promotions on performance. ‘Military promotions are allocated to those who have demonstrated merit. The Department does not factor in a service member’s race or gender,’ Parnell clarified in his statement to Fox News Digital.

“Under President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, meritocracy prevails at the War Department,” a spokesperson reiterated.

Senator Kelly, however, asserted that women and Black service members were dismissed due to their identities. He stated, ‘They have consistently targeted women and Black individuals without justifications.’ Kelly, a former Navy captain and Armed Services Committee member, also alleged that Hegseth dismissed Gen. CQ Brown because of his race, a move President Trump executed shortly after reassuming office in 2025.

Kelly drew attention to the dismissal of Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to assume the role of chief of naval operations. He accused Hegseth of obstructing promotions based on race and gender, arguing that this would deplete the military of seasoned leaders.

“We risk losing leaders because women and Black officers might feel discouraged and depart mid-career,” Kelly remarked, suggesting a potential exodus of talented personnel.

Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez addressed these allegations, asserting the department’s commitment to merit-based practices. Valdez stated, ‘Any contention against merit-based promotions calls one’s values into question. Promotions based solely on identity are inappropriate.’

President Trump replaced Brown with retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan ‘Razin’ Caine, while Hegseth sought candidates to fill various senior roles, including those of Franchetti and other high-ranking officials across the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

The DOW rejected claims that it targeted minority officers due to their identities, emphasizing its stance on merit-driven advancements. According to Hegseth, prioritizing identity over performance equates to substandard leadership. His remarks at Marine Corps Base Quantico stressed the notion that promotions should always reflect accomplishments.

For further developments, you can access the Fox News app or contact CJ Womack, Associate Editor at Fox News Digital, who contributed to this report.