Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed nine navy officers from a promotion list last month, according to a person familiar with the matter. The officers removed included women and Black service members.

The intervention resulted in an all-male, predominantly white slate of 22 nominees advancing for promotion to one-star admiral positions. The promotion list originally contained 31 officers before Hegseth's changes.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Hegseth's action violated promotion rules that are designed to be merit-based and apolitical. Military promotion processes typically follow established protocols to maintain objectivity in advancement decisions.

The move aligns with the Trump administration's broader efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs within the military. The administration has taken several steps to roll back DEI initiatives across federal agencies since taking office.

Navy promotion lists are typically developed through a systematic review process involving multiple levels of military leadership. The secretary of defense holds final authority over such promotions, though interventions of this nature are considered unusual in military protocol.