Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently intervened to remove nine Navy officers from a promotion list to one-star admiral, including all three women who had been selected, according to a defense official who spoke anonymously.

The Navy's promotion board had initially selected 31 sailors to advance from captain to one-star admiral. Hegseth's intervention resulted in no women being promoted to admiral this year, despite women comprising about one-quarter of all Navy officers and nearly one-third of midgrade ranks, according to 2024 military data.

The removed officers included three women and two Black men. The full promotion list had been approved by then-Navy Secretary John Phelan, other Navy leaders, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine before reaching Hegseth.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated this week that "military promotions are given to those who have earned them" and that the Pentagon "will never consider the color of a service member's skin or their gender as a factor in promotions." However, the Pentagon has not provided specific rationale for why the nine officers were removed from the list.

Eight female Navy officers of varying ranks told the Associated Press they view the intervention as creating uncertainty about career advancement. The officers spoke anonymously, citing concerns about potential retribution from superiors.

The Navy's promotion process typically involves a board of officers examining records and selecting the most qualified candidates based on performance, competence, and character. While defense secretaries have authority to modify promotion lists, military experts note such intervention is uncommon. Hegseth has previously argued that women in the military receive preferential treatment, though he has not provided evidence for this claim.