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Female Navy officers say they fear a career cap after Hegseth cuts women from promotions list
The Pentagon said promotions are based on merit, but female officers fear the move signals a ceiling after nine sailors were removed from the slate.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently removed nine sailors from a 31-person Navy promotion list, including three women and two Black men, despite prior approval from Navy leaders and Gen. Dan Caine.
Since taking office, Hegseth has fired Adm. Lisa Franchetti and two other female three-star admirals without explanation, arguing that gender quotas made the Pentagon "less capable and less lethal."
Before reaching Hegseth, the 31-person list had passed through Navy leaders and the Joint Chiefs of Staff after Navy Secretary John Phelan directed the board to select candidates based on performance and Indo-Pacific strategic competence.
Pentagon spokesman Parnell said "military promotions are given to those who have earned them," yet female officers told The Associated Press they fear these removals signal a permanent career ceiling.
Consequently, the Navy is not promoting a single woman to the one-star admiral rank this year, despite women representing about one-quarter of all Navy officers and nearly one-third of midgrade ranks.