Reed Sounds Alarm Over Hegseth Interference with Merit-Based Promotions & String of Senior Military Officer Firings

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, after NBC News reported that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth personally intervened in the promotion process of more than a dozen senior officers across all four service branches and other outlets reported on a string of wartime firings of top Army officers, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement:

"If Secretary Hegseth intervened to block or delay the promotion of highly-qualified officers, who were selected by their peers based on merit and performance, it is disgraceful and a complete betrayal of the merit-based promotion system that is the foundation of our military.

"This intervention would run counter to the law, longstanding practice, and tradition that accessions and promotions within the military services be based on "individual merit and demonstrated performance." Instead, if reports are true, the Secretary appears to be unfairly targeting officers based on their sex, race, or other factors.

"I am deeply concerned that Secretary Hegseth is politicizing military service, failing to uphold the merit-based promotion process, and doing long-term institutional damage to the all-volunteer force.

"The men and women directly impacted by Secretary Hegseth's intervention deserve better and so do their fellow servicemembers.

"I am also concerned that during a time of war, and without justification or demonstrated rationale, Secretary Hegseth has effectively fired the Chief of Staff of the Army and other senior Army leadership. The Secretary's continued assault on the senior military ranks could have a chilling effect on the ability of senior officers to do their duty.

"Secretary Hegseth's diminishment of merit-based promotions, and his continued removal of our most senior military leaders, is a grave concern that must be confronted."

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